Maria Sharapova to drop out of world top 350 after suffering Australian Open first-round exit
Maria Sharapova’s woes continued in Melbourne as she was dumped out of the Australian Open in the first round by Donna Vekic.
Sharapova spent much of 2019 out injured with a recurring shoulder complaint, and her ranking has taken such a pummelling in the meantime she needed a wildcard to even get into the Australian Open.
It didn’t get any better for her once the tournament began either, with Vekic overcoming her with relative ease in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.
It was Sharapova’s third first-round exit at a Grand Slam in succession, and the first time she has ever fell at the first hurdle at the Australian Open.
Its the latest in a long line of blows for the Russian, who was hit with a 15-month drugs ban in 2016 and has struggled for fitness and form since.
The 32-year-old will now drop out of the top 350 in the world as a result of the defeat.
Elsewhere in Melbourne, there were no similar worries for tenth seed Madison Keys, who easily overcame Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-1 in her opener.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Tennis NewsBritain’s Heather Watson beaten in Abu Dhabi as the world No.1 also crashes out
Heather Watson bowed out of the Abu Dhabi Open in a gruelling second-round defeat by 17th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
-
Australian OpenQuarantine plan revealed for the game’s top players ahead of Australian Open
The world’s leading players will quarantine in Adelaide rather than Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open.
-
Tennis NewsRising star provisionally suspended from all tennis activity following a positive doping test
Ukrainian rising star Dayana Yastremska has been…
-
Tennis NewsIs this the real reason why Roger Federer is skipping next month’s Australian Open?
Roger Federer suggested he pulled out of the Australian Open for fitness reasons, yet other reasons were in play.
-
Tennis NewsSofia Kenin wins as the tennis season gets underway despite doubts over what happens next
No.1 seed Sofia Kenin of the United…
-
Kevin PalmerExclusive – F1 champ Jenson Button on his love of tennis and the Federer vs Nadal debate
Formula 1 ace Jenson Button has admitted he is ‘in awe’ of the tennis giants of the modern era.
-
Kevin PalmerExclusive – British Davis Cup captain makes a prediction for Dan Evans in 2021
British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith believes Dan Evans could be a player to watch in 2021.
-
Tennis NewsTennis star Camila Giorgi draws mixed response after posting sexy lingerie images on social media
Tennis star Camila Giorgi has been targeted by online trolls after sharing a series of racy lingerie snaps on her social media channels.
-
NewsLegendary coach of Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic loses his fight with cancer
Bob Brett, one of tennis’ most respected coaches and a former director of player development has died of cancer.
-
NewsAustralian Open organisers scrambling to finalise preparations for players
The hard work appeared to have been done when Tennis Australia announced last month that the tournament would start on February 8.