Early to bed for sleepy Sharapova

Melbourne - Maria Sharapova isn't used to staying up late these days.

But the Russian five-time Grand Slam champion was forced to do just that in her second round match at the Australian Open which ended at half-past midnight early on Thursday.

The 31-year-old said afterwards she was an early to bed type of woman.

"22:30, like in bed at 22:00, sleep by 22:30," she said.

"My boyfriend challenges it quite a lot, but 22:30 is my time."

Sharpova is currently dating entrepreneur Alexander Gilkes.

Sharapova brushed aside Swede Rebecca Peterson 6-2, 6-1 in the second round in Melbourne and faces Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in Round 3 on Friday.