News, Reviews, Headlines for the world of Tennis (tennis news)
 | Sharapova exited in the fourth round23-01-2011 |
New champion will surely in the women's Australian Open after the last former winner of Melbourne Park Maria Sharapova exited in the fourth round.
Number 14 Sharapova lost a disastrous 30 th-seeded German Andrea Petkovic with 2:6, 3:6 for 79 minutes.
The game started equally, Petkovic 2:2 but then won seven straight games to take the first set and led 3:0 in the second.
5:1 In the second part Sharapova managed to break first, and then reduced to 3:5, but no more forces.
"I'm not sure if this is the strongest match in my career. Maria did not play second to none. I wanted to maintain a constant pace, trying to look her forehand because it allows more errors in this attack. I knew it was not on top of their form itozi time benefit. Glad I'm quarterfinal, "said 23-year-old Petkovic, for the first time ranked among the best eight of a Grand Slam.
The German conceded just nine unforced errors in the match against Sharapova 30.
The next opponent of last year Petkovic will be polufinalistka Na Li of China.