Sharapova knocked out by qualifier at Wuhan Open
Maria Sharapova. AP
WUHAN, China — Maria Sharapova was knocked out of the Wuhan Open by Swiss qualifier Timea Bacsinszky 7-6 (3), 7-5 in the third round on Wednesday.
Sharapova double-faulted six times in the first set, and was twice a break up in the second set, but couldn’t shake off Bacsinszky, who earned the biggest win of her career with a win over the Russian ranked No. 4 in the world. Bacsinszky had two previous top-10 wins, the last in 2010, but both were by retirement.
Article continues after this advertisementA day after advancing at the expense of an ill Serena Williams, Alize Cornet of France reached the quarterfinals by defeating Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-3. The Italian led 3-1 in the last set.
No. 7-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany eased past Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1, and set up a quarterfinal against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who received a walkover when Garbine Muguruza of Spain couldn’t compete due to gastroenteritis.
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