Sharapova downs injured Gajdosova

Australian Jarmila Gajdosova retired from her match against Maria Sharapova at the Italian Open when down 6-2 3-1.

Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova (pic) will face Maria Sharapova in her next match at the Rome Masters. (AAP)

Maria Sharapova opened her bid for a third Italian Open title with a win over Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova on Tuesday.

The third-seeded Sharapova was leading 6-2 3-1 when Gajdosova retired with an apparent injury.

Sharapova won back-to-back titles at the Foro Italico in 2011 and 2012.

She is coming off a loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Madrid Open semi-finals.

Organisers did not immediately say why Gajdosova retired.