Maria Sharapova the latest big-name casualty at Wimbledon, but Simona Halep triumphs
Maria Sharapova became the latest huge name to exit Wimbledon at the first hurdle after a shock defeat to Vitalia Diatchenko.
The 2004 Champion, playing at Wimbledon for the first time since 2015, came into the tournament with a perfect 13-0 record.
However, despite being just a game away from victory in the second set, she sank to an epic three-hour 6-7 7-6 6-4 defeat.
“I definitely had several chances in the match,” Sharapova said in a news conference after her defeat. “Although not playing my best tennis, I opened up a few doors and was a couple points away from winning this match.
“Sometimes you put yourself in a better or winning position, and you don’t finish through. That was the case today.”
World number one, Simona Halep, had no such difficulties,comfortably overcoming Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-2 6-4.
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