TOKYO (AFP) - Maria Sharapova shrugged off last years disappointing first-round exit as she got off to a confident start in beating Tamarine Tanasugarn in the Pan Pacific Open on Monday in Tokyo. The Russian world number two, who crashed to a surprise defeat to Japans Kimiko Date-Krumm last year, was in full swing as she defeated the veteran Thai 6-1, 7-5 to stride into the third round after a first-round bye. I served really well today. I had a good percentage and a few aces. It is definitely important for me to serve well because she reads the ball very well, said Sharapova, the winner here in 2005 and 2009. I played really a good match. I had a little bit of let-down in the second set. She started playing very well. It was much tougher in the second set, but I got it in two sets, added Sharapova, 24. Sharapova took the first set easily and then jumped into a 3-0 lead in the second set. But Tamarine fought back. She cashed in on a double break opportunity in the fourth and 10th games to even the score at 5-5 as the Russian suddenly began misfiring.