LONDON, June 21(Xinhuanet)-- Russian Maria Sharapova started her defense of title, beating Spanish Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-2, 6-2 in the first round at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old Russian broke Llagostera Vives in the second and eighth games of both sets.

The second seed allowed Llagostera Vives only four points for a 3-0 lead in the first set, and two points only in the first three games of the second set.

Llagostera Vives, who won her only WTA Tour title earlier this year at Rabat, Morocco, had just one break-point opportunity. But Sharapova won the fifth game of the second set.

Sharapova, at 1.83 meters, won her first Grand Slam title at the All England Club last year when Llagostera Vives reached the second round.

On the WTA Tour this year, Sharapova has reached at least the quarterfinals in all nine events she has played and has a 37-6 record. She has won three of her 10 titles this year. Enditem