UPDATE 1-Tennis-Open-Sharapova glad to swap cocktails for racket

* Sharapova beats unheralded Yakimova in grand slam comeback

* Second career is starting for me, says the Russian

(adds quotes, details)

By Julien Pretot

PARIS, May 25 (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova began Act II of her storied career on Monday when she shrieked her way into the second round of the French Open with a 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory over Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus.

Twelve months after competing in Paris as the world number one, the Russian turned up ranked 102nd as she is on a comeback trail following a nine-month layoff with a career-threatening shoulder injury.

After not knowing for months whether she would ever be able to return to the big stage again, Sharapova was delighted to be back in grand slam action.

"If I was a mentally weak person or individual, I wouldn't be here today," Sharapova, who was unable to defend her Australian Open title in January, told a news conference.

"I'd be on some island ... with a nice cold Pina Colada and a nice cold towel they hand around at the pools.