Sharapova storms past Cornet to book her place in the last 16 in Melbourne

Relief: Maria Sharapova blows a kiss to the crowd after beating Alize Cornet in straight sets

Quick-fire: Sharapova wallops a forehand back across the net as she cruises to victory

The 2008 champion barely broke sweat in racing into a 4-0 first-set lead, with Cornet's tentative approach playing straight into Sharapova's hands.

Cornet fired a forehand long to go a break down and there would be no let up as she found herself 15-40 behind in her next service game, with Sharapova clinically sealing the double break.

Cornet did get on the scoreboard, but the 23-year-old then dropped her own serve to love before third seed Sharapova wrapped up the first set in 32 minutes.

Cornet buried her face in her towel at the change of ends and came out firing at the beginning of the second set, fighting back from 0-40 down in the third game to hold serve after several uncharacteristic errors from Sharapova.

Fist pump: The Russian managed to get over the line in the second set despite missing chances

Not enough: Alize Cornet serves during her defeat to 2008 champion

She made Sharapova pay for her lapse by going a break up with a lovely backhand half-volley at the net, but she could not consolidate and lost the next three games.

Sharapova first broke to love and in Cornet's next service game, two excellent forehand winners put the four-time grand slam champion in control.

The 26-year-old could not convert her first match point on Cornet's serve and then failed to serve it out, to the delight of the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

Beating the heat: The No 3 seed wraps a cooling towel around herself between games

Delight and anguish: Sharapova's emotions were always on show in Australia

Sharapova sealed yet another break with some positive intent but once again, she could not hold her own serve and the chance to seal victory went begging.

The tiebreak followed the pattern of the second set, with the players exchanging several mini-breaks, but it was Cornet who had the first opportunity at 6/5 ahead, only for Sharapova to level proceedings.

Cornet then put two successive forehands long as Sharapova eventually got over the line.

Strain: Sharapova puts all her energy into serving

With a grimace: Sharapova heaves a backhand down the line