Russia’s Maria Sharapova leaves the court after losing to Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Monday, June 1, 2015 in Paris. Safarova won 7-6, 6-4. AP
PARIS — Defending champion Maria Sharapova lost to 13th-seeded Lucie Safarova 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the fourth round of the French Open on Monday.
It is the second-seeded Sharapova’s earliest defeat at Roland Garros since 2010, when she was beaten in the third round. Since then, the Russian won the clay-court Grand Slam tournament in 2012 and 2014, was the runner-up once and reached the semifinals once.
Coughing between points on an overcast day, Sharapova allowed Safarova to dictate much of the action. Safarova wound up with a considerable edge in winners, 34-20, including forehands on the last two points.
In her first French Open quarterfinal, Safarova will face No. 21 Garbine Muguruza, who beat No. 28 Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-4.