-
Kudryavtseva: Stunning win
Alla Kudryavtseva caused one of Wimbledon's greatest upsets by beating Maria Sharapova in straight sets.
The 20-year-old Russian, ranked 154th in the world, pulled off a stunning 6-2 6-4 victory on Court One to send the 2004 champion tumbling out in the second round.
It was a lacklustre display by Sharapova, who has reached at least the fourth round on all five of her previous visits to the All England Club.
The world number two was let down by her serve, with eight double-faults contributing to her downfall.
Costly mistake
She led 40-15 in the 10th game of the second set as she served to stay in the match, but two mistakes were followed by a costly double fault.
Kudryavtseva made the most of her first match point, a powerful return giving her the chance to fire a forehand winner into the corner.
It was the performance of a lifetime from Kudryavtseva, who has never previously been beyond the third round of a Grand Slam and who won her first match at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
She forced a break point in Sharapova's second service game - which the third seed saved - and then profitted from three double faults to break for a 4-2 lead.
Sharapova could muster little response as her opponent consolidated the break before winning a fourth successive game to take the set.
The Australian Open champion scored an early break at the start of the second set courtesy of a fortunate net cord, but more wayward serving allowed Kudryavtseva to break back.
A perfect forehand then gave the younger player a second break and a 4-2 lead, only for Sharapova to come back fighting with a break in the seventh game.
However, it wasn't enough to wake her from her slumber and Kudryavtseva completed a famous victory with another break of Sharapova's fragile serve.
"I guess it wasn't my day. She just did everything better than I did," Sharapova said.
"She had nothing to lose and went for her shots. She served and returned better and on grass they are two important elements.
"I was just pretty tentative. I'm not sure why. It's a question I'll be asking myself. I wasn't playing my game and I let her take control on the majority of points."
