The clash was the headline meeting of the second round, after Bouchard last month criticised the way Sharapova has been welcomed back to tennis following the Russian's 15-month doping suspension for meldonium use.

Sharapova was given a wildcard for the Porsche Grand Prix in German city Stuttgart last month, which was her first tournament back after her ban and saw her reach the semi-finals.

Organisers at the Park Manzanares in Spain's capital also handed the Russian automatic entry, meaning she did not have to come through qualification.

"She's a cheater and I don't think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play again," Bouchard, a 2014 Wimbledon finalist, told TRT World last month.

Bouchard, who has struggled for consistency since her breakthrough season in 2014, rose to the occasion impressively and claimed the opening set 7-5.

The Canadian was unable to keep the pressure on Sharapova in the second set, with the Russian five-time grand slam champion hitting back to force a decider.

Little would separate the two players in the final set, with Sharapova twice saving three break points as the match headed towards its finale.

When Bouchard finally achieved the break, she was unable to hold serve herself, tying the scores again.

Bouchard would eventually re-establish her advantage and was able to serve out the match, sealing a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win.

The Canadian will face Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the third round, with the top seeded German winning 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 against the Czech Republic’s Kateřina Siniaková.

Second seed Karolina Pliskova suffered a surprise defeat, with the Czech player losing 6-3, 6-3 to Anastasija Sevastova of Lativa.

In the men’s first round, the Czech Republic’s Tomáš Berdych secured a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan. 

Spain's David Ferrer was forced to come from behind to beat Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.

Competition at the Women's Tennis Association and Association of Tennis Professionals Masters 1000 event continues tomorrow.