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W here Maria Sharapova? From all the disturbances up here at Wimbledon this year, the 2004 champion 's exit in the first round on Tuesday night has almost slipped under the radar, occurring, as he did, while l' radar radar,,,,,,,,,,, England was going up to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
In tennis, however, the defeat of the 31-year-old has raised more than a few eyebrows. Her 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 loss to Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia was the first to be eliminated in the first round and the world number 138, Diatchenko, was the lowest placed player in a big slam. since she was beaten by the Russian Noa Alla Kudryatseva in the second round here in 2008.
Sharapova put a brave face on things, saying that she has come a long way since the 39, last year. It's been more than 14 months since she returned to the WTA Tour after her 15-month ban, imposed for taking meldonium, a drug she had not been able to add to the list of drugs. bans of the World Anti-Doping Authority early 2017.
Twelve months ago, with her ranking at 179, she had to participate in the Wimbledon qualifying event but withdrew because of An injury. A year later, she was ranked # 24 here. Her loss was a big surprise, but if she stays in shape for the rest of the year, she is still in the race to end up in the top 10.
When she returned to the Tour Sharapova said that One of his main goals was to add five Grand Slam titles to him. In her four Grand Slam tournaments since her return, she has reached the fourth round, the third round, the quarterfinals and the first round. She won a tournament, in Tianjin, last October
The manner of this defeat must get worse after she lost a 7-6, 5-2 lead against a woman who n & # 39; He had never passed the first round before. 196519003] Kim Clijsters, the former world No. 1 at Wimbledon this year and WTA finals ambassador, was as surprised as anyone to see Sharapova lose so much and wondered if the 31-year-old man found the Life on Tour is difficult, in more ways than one.
"I thought about it and it must be tough for her, cope with what happened and face a lot of people," Clijsters told The Guardian. "I think for me it would be the hardest, I saw her documentary and she mentions it, all of a sudden you worry about the person in the street, what do they think of you." you see many people you know, that you knew, that you did not know, and it must be difficult, whatever the intentions, it must be difficult. "
Sharapova is far from being the only big name to go out in the early days. US Open champion Sloane Stephens was eliminated on the first day and double champion Petra Kvitova was very nervous when she was defeated on Tuesday in the first round.
Clijsters said that the new generation of players was more intimidated by the big names. "When you are a Serena or a Sharapova, the youngest players who are now at the WTA level have admired them for many, many years and have grown up observing them," she said. "They are able to play them now and they no longer fear them, they play hard and play their best tennis.That's why I'm curious to see, these two players who beat them, how will they be able to act against someone they are supposed to beat. "
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