Maria Sharapova suffered one of the worst defeats of her career yesterday when she was beaten 6-0, 6-2 by Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in the French Open quarter-finals.
Maria Sharapova suffered one of the worst defeats of her career yesterday when she was beaten 6-0, 6-2 by Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in the French Open quarter-finals.
It was the former world number one's heaviest loss since she went down 6-1, 6-1 to Serena Williams in the fourth round in Miami in 2007.
ADVERTISEMENT
It could have been a lot worse for one of sport's most high-profile women as Cibulkova, playing in her first Grand Slam quarter-final, had a match point to complete a 6-0, 6-0 humiliation before the Russian managed to put two games together to stop the rot.
Sharapova saved three more match points in the eighth game of the second set before her resistance crumbled with a netted forehand.
"It took me a while to get going and create good opportunities to come to the net and finish the point," said Sharapova, who had played four three-setters to get this far in just her second event since returning from a 10-month injury lay-off.
"But you can only ask your body to do so much. Everything fell short and the pace wasn't there. It all combined but she played really solid and I came up short."
Cibulkova, the 20th seed, will now will face top seed Dinara Safina, who earlier put out Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, for a place in the final.
"It might be a surprising result for people who don't know me but I played solid from the baseline and didn't make too many errors," said the Bratislava girl.
"I knew that if I could make her move around the court I would have a chance.
"When it ws 6-0, 5-0 and I was 40-30 I realised what was happening, that I could beat Maria Sharapova and get to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam. She hit some great shots.
"But I knew I had to take my chances and not get too tight." Sharapova was bidding to reach her second semi-final following a run to the 2007 last four.
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
