Sharapova falls to Kerber in 3 sets at Wimbledon

Maria Sharapova of Russia looks dejected after losing a point to Angelique Kerber of Germany during their women’s singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. AP PHOTO/BEN CURTIS

LONDON—Former champion Maria Sharapova saved six match points before falling to Angelique Kerber in the fourth round at Wimbledon on Tuesday, ending her bid to win a second title at the All England Club a decade after her first.

Sharapova, a five-time major champion, saved one match point at 5-2 down in the third set and five more in the final game before hitting a backhand long on the seventh.

That gave the ninth-seeded Kerber a stirring 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 win on Centre Court. The German reached the semifinals at Wimbledon two years ago.

Sharapova had lost only seven games in her three previous matches, but she had 49 unforced errors to Kerber’s 11.–Stephen Wilson