Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova suffered a shocking first round exit after being demolished by Germany’s Angelique Kerber at the WTA Stuttgart Grand Prix.
Sharapova, who missed Russia’s Fed Cup semi-final against Germany last weekend due to a leg injury, was edged by world number 14 Kerber with a 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 defeat.
Sharapova started well by comfortably winning the first set 6-2. The second set though, was rather unfortunate for the Russian as she initially dominated to secure a 5-4 lead, before Kerber bounced back and won the next three games to win 7-5.
Kerber kept the momentum going in the third set, by nailing a phenomenal 6-1 win to ultimately wrap up the win and book her spot in the next round.
This defeat now means that Sharapova could potentially lose her world number 2 ranking to Romania’s Simona Halep next week.
with an impressive form when she comfortably won 6-2 in the first set.
Photo Credits: Business Insider
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