Sharapova booked her place in the third round of the Grand Slam event after a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) win over Anastasija Sevastova.
The Russian, who missed the Australian Open last year after serving a ban for a failed drugs test, hasn’t won the tournament since 2008.
And speaking about the importance of the competition, Sharapova said: “It is extremely special to see that line of champions, the amount of years, I am a small part of its history.
“You see former champions winning this event many times.
“To be able to hold that once was great, but to see so many champions hold it gives me motivation.”
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On beating Sevastova, Sharapova added: “When she broke me back I was thinking it was going to be three sets again.
“She is a tough opponent, she has a game that is very tricky the matter the conditions.
“I had to get a really good start, that is what I did wrong the previous two times and I wanted to change that around.”
Elsewhere, there was another upset as Johanna Konta lost to Bernarda Pera in the second round – 4-6, 5-7.
Pera, who is taking part in her maiden Grand Slam event, qualified as a lucky loser.