Maria Sharapova beaten in Wimbledon opener
Wednesday 4 July 2018 12:58, UK
Maria Sharapova was eliminated from Wimbledon in the first round on Tuesday.
The 2004 champion lost 6-7 7-6 4-6 to Vitalia Diatchenko, the world No 132 and a qualifier to the tournament.
Sharapova's first match on a grass court in three years ended when she double-faulted on match point.
Two-time champion Petra Kvitova was also eliminated in the first round by world No 50 Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
The 2011 and 2014 winner Kvitova was shocked 6-4 4-6 6-0 to continue a terrible run of form at Grand Slams.
She has gone out before the quarter-finals in five of her last six Grand Slams, dating back to the 2016 knife incident that left her with injuries to her playing hand.
This year, world No 7 Kvitova lost her first match at the Australian Open and was eliminated from the French Open in the third round.
World No 1 Simona Halep enjoyed a far easier route into the second round, beating Kurumi Nara 6-2 6-4.
Caroline Garcia, the sixth seed, fell in straight sets to Belinda Bencic.
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Our next tennis action comes from the German Open in Hamburg. Watch the action live on Sky Sports Arena from Monday, July 23 from 10am.
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