Maria Sharapova survived a stern test with a hard-fought three-set victory over China's Zheng Jie at the Hong Kong Tennis Classic.

Despite an encouraging start from world number 35 Zheng, Sharapova's power eventually prevailed as the three-time grand slam winner won an entertaining and competitive exhibition 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2 in just under two and a half hours.

After only fully returning from 10 months on the sidelines last May following shoulder surgery, world number 14 Sharapova is again using the annual exhibition as her only preparation for the Australian Open after beating Venus Williams in two sets in another exhibition in Thailand last week.

"She definitely played very well but in tennis the match is never over until it is over," said 2007 Australian Open champion Sharapova.

"It was great to have a three-set match. I will take whatever comes my way; if that means losing the first set and battling back to find a way to win, then that is what I am going to do, although the goal wasn't to need to win in three sets."

In cool evening conditions at Victoria Park, the tenacious Zheng edged a mammoth 65-minute first set in an equally thrilling tie-break after recovering from an early break of serve.

But Sharapova regrouped in the second and again broke early for a 3-2 lead and, despite the diminutive Zheng levelling at 4-4, the Russian always looked in control and wrapped up a relatively straightforward set in 45 minutes.

And Sharapova, who won the only competitive meeting between the pair in Tokyo in 2003, continued her revival in the third with another break to take a 3-1 lead before sealing the well-earned win at the first opportunity as a fading Zheng again failed to hold her serve.

"I wasn't as aggressive in the beginning, I thought she controlled most of the points," added Sharapova.

"I was letting her play her game too much and I thought I finally stepped in and started moving forward a little better as the match moved on and I started to put some pressure on her."

Earlier, world number nine Vera Zvonareva saw off the spirited challenge of Japanese teenager Ayumi Morita 6-2 6-2.

Russia's Zvonareva, a two-time WTA Tour title winner last year, broke 19-year-old Morita twice in each set to win in 73 minutes as the world number 83 was made to pay for 24 unforced errors.

Zvonareva is looking to repeat the phenomenal start she made to last season, which saw the 25-year-old claim her eighth and ninth Tour singles titles at Pattaya City and Indian Wells after reaching a first grand slam semi-final at the Australian Open.

"It is the start of the season but it was a tough game," said Zvonareva. "Ayumi is a good young player and she played very well."