TENNIS in DEPTH.

Maria Sharapova advanced to the third round of the Los Angeles Women’s Tennis Championships on Wednesday night, beating third-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 at The Home Depot Center.

Still in comeback mode after missing seven months because of a shoulder injury, Sharapova rallied to win the competitive 2-hour, 32-minute match.

“I loved it,” Sharapova said. “You expect that against her. She’s a great retriever and makes you hits tons of balls. I had to come in with a good game plan and a smart one. I think I did good job adjusting out to the circumstances. I am pleased.

“I knew I was going to have to dig deep and try to find ways. I’m pretty happy with the way I was able to hang in with her and really step up when had to. That was the difference between us.”

One of the circumstances confronting the players was a baby crying during the first set. Asked if she had heard it, Sharapova stared at the questioner and smiled.

“Did I hear the baby?” she asked. “My mother in Russia heard the baby.”

Sharapova’s rebuilt serve was erratic, her four aces offset by a dozen double-faults, but she was much steadier with her groundstrokes than Azarenka.

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