MADRID, Spain -- Maria Sharapova avoided an early exit from the Madrid Open on Tuesday, rallying to beat Christina McHale to re

MADRID, Spain -- Maria Sharapova avoided an early exit from the Madrid Open on Tuesday, rallying to beat Christina McHale to reach the third round while Roger Federer withdrew from the mens event. Deion Sanders Super Bowl Jersey . Trailing 4-1 in the final set, Sharapova steadied her erratic service game and took command again to beat the 56th-ranked American 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 on clay at the Magic Box tennis centre. The ninth-ranked Russian looked to be cruising before McHale broke late in the second set to tie the match and then took her commanding lead in the final set after breaking Sharapova. However, Sharapova didnt surrender a point after that as McHale netted to be broken to see her advantage dip to 4-3, and Sharapova eventually fired an ace down the middle to eliminate McHale for the second year running. "After a really good start (in Madrid) I didnt keep that level. I think I had a bit of a letdown," said 2013 finalist Sharapova, who is coming off a tournament victory in Stuttgart. Earlier, Li Na continued her recent dominance of Zheng Jie by easing into the third round 6-2, 6-3 for her fourth straight victory against her fellow Chinese player. Zheng hasnt won a set from the second-ranked Li since her last victory in 2006. Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic also advanced with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia, while American Sloane Stephens was also a winner. Federer pulled out of the Masters Series event to spend more time with his family as his wife awaits the birth of another child. The fourth-seeded Swiss player is the second big name to withdraw after Novak Djokovic pulled out because of a wrist injury. Polands Lukasc Kubot takes Federers place to face Gilles Simon of France. David Ferrer struggled through Madrids high altitude and a bout of nerves to pull out a 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-3 victory over Spanish countryman Albert Ramos. Ferrer saved four set points as he won five straight points to take the first set tiebreak, clinching the lead with a crosscourt forehand smash. After being broken to trail 6-5 in the second set, Ferrer reeled off four straight errors for his 115th-ranked opponent to even it before eventually pulling through in just under three hours. But it wasnt without repeated scenes of frustration when he mumbled to himself and his entourage nearby. "You say things when youre nervous in the match that you dont have a feel for. You can write a book about a match," said Ferrer about his motivation, before referring to thinner air and its effect on the ball. "The first day is not easy. You miss more, but thats all." Fabio Fogninis recent struggles on Spanish clay continued as the 13th-seeded Italian lost 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov. Fognini failed to get out of the second round at Barcelona last month. Nicolas Almagro will play Andy Murray next after finally dispensing with Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan, 6-3, 6-7 (9), 7-6 (4) with his 11th match point. Other second round winners included Canadas Milos Raonic, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, South Africas Kevin Anderson, Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands, and Juan Monaco of Argentina -- who goes on to play defending champion Rafael Nadal on Wednesday. Robbie Gould Super Bowl Jersey . Follow all the action live on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto, TSN Radio 690 in Montreal, TSN Radio 1260 in Edmonton and TEAM 1410 on Friday at 3pm et/Noon pt. Ahkello Witherspoon Super Bowl Jersey .com) - The Los Angeles Kings peppered Ryan Miller with shot after shot. http://www.authenticsf49erspro.com/Tom-rathman-49ers-jersey/ . Wiggins, who had been seen as a contender for a podium finish in Paris, was one of about 20 riders caught near the back of the peloton with 38 kilometres to go in the 218-km flat stage from Le Mans to Chateauroux.There will be no change to the dates for next years African Cup of Nations despite the Ebola outbreak, the Confederation of African Football said Monday.CAF also said host country Morocco has until Saturday to agree to the schedule or lose the tournament.CAF maintained its position on Africas top football tournament after a meeting of its executive committee in Algeria over the weekend and then meetings with Moroccan officials — who want the cup postponed — in Rabat, Morocco on Monday.In a statement, CAF said Moroccos football federation should now clarify its final position on the tournament by Saturday. CAF will meet next Tuesday to make a final decision on Moroccos hosting, it said.There was no immediate comment from Moroccan officials, who had maintained before the meetings with CAF President Issa Hayatou that they would stand by their decision not to host on the planned dates of Jan. 17-Feb. 8.CAF will talk to other countries willing to host if Morocco doesnt agree to hold the tournament on those dates, although its unclear if anyone wants to step in.Possible stand-in hosts South Africa, Egypt and Sudan have all said they wont stage the ttournament. George Kittle Super Bowl Jersey. Ghana and Nigeria are believed to be considering if they want to act as short-notice hosts.Last month, Morocco asked for the 16-team competition to be delayed because of the threat of fans arriving in numbers from Ebola-affected countries. The virus has killed about 5,000 people in West Africa in the worst recorded outbreak. The deaths have almost all occurred in the three worst-affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.In its statement, CAF listed reasons why the cup should go ahead in January and February, saying the numbers of travelling fans would be low, Morocco has no reported Ebola cases, and the dates cant be moved because they fit in with FIFAs calendar.CAF also cited its commitments to its commercial partners, with the African Cup of Nations the organizations most important and valuable tournament.CAF has kept the qualifying competition for the African Cup going by banning all games in Guinea and Sierra Leone and ordering their teams to play home games in neutral countries. Liberia isnt involved in the final qualifiers.___Gerald Imray is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP ' ' '