Sharapova's status for the year's first major was uncertain after the Russian sustained a thigh injury at a tournament in China earlier this month but the five-time grand slam champion proved she is just fine by dispatching the Dane 6-4 4-6 6-3 in two hours, 24 minutes.
The key of the third-round tussle was likely Sharapova overturning a 4-1 deficit in the first set. Although Wozniacki claimed the second, she was broken in an extended seventh game of the third and cruised home in a contest punctuated by entertaining rallies.
A pleasant handshake ensued at the net two years after Wozniacki expressed disappointment at Sharapova being put on center court at the US Open in the wake of returning from a drug ban, while she featured on Court 5.
That US Open was the last time Sharapova -- who next faces home hope Ashleigh Barty -- registered a top-five victory, ousting Simona Halep in the first round.
Federer unscathed
Defending men's champion Roger Federer still hasn't dropped a set through three rounds, with the Swiss fending off 21-year-old American Taylor Fritz 6-2 5-7 6-2. Fritz's fellow American, Frances Tiafoe, though, followed up his upset of fifth seed Kevin Anderson by downing Italian veteran Andreas Seppi 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3 for a spot in the round of 16 at a grand slam for the first time.
The 20-year-old meets Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday after the 2017 semifinalist -- being coached by Andre Agassi -- defeated Italy's Thomas Fabbiano 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-4.
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