MONTREAL (AFP) - French Open champion Maria Sharapova rallied for a three-set victory over Garbine Muguruza on Wednesday to reach the third round of the WTA hardcourt tournament at Montreal.

The fourth-seeded former world number one fought back to beat the rising Spanish talent 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to set up a meeting with another Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 winner over Czech Karolina Pliskova.

Sharapova, playing her first match since a surprise last 16 exit at Wimbledon, was a runner-up at this event in 2009 when it was held in Toronto.

Meanwhile, sixth-seeded German left-hander Angelique Kerber made short work of France's Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-1 and 11th-seeded former world number one Caroline Wozniacki steamrolled Czech Klara Koukalova 6-1, 6-2.

Kerber has reached, and lost, four finals this season, including losing last week to Serena Williams in the final at Stanford on Sunday.

Williams, the world number one and top seed, was in action later Wednesday, taking on Australian Samantha Stosur in a second round match.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the second seed, was to take on Aussie Casey Dellacqua.

In other second-round action involving seeded players, British qualifier Heather Watson ousted 10th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5).