Sharapova Losses and will be dethroned from number 1 spot

A sad day all around as Russian beauty Maria Sharapova will be set to lose her number 1 rank in women’s tennis after crashing out of the Pacific Life Open with a 4-6 7-5 6-1 defeat to VERA Zvonareva.

She led 5-3 in the second set before losing eight consecutive games.

“I’m not making any excuses,” said Sharapova. “There is no use in that. It is one of those days where it didn’t happen.”

The victory, in front of a crowd of 3000, moved Zvonareva into the quarter-finals and cost Sharapova her world No.1 ranking.

Sharapova had extra pressure on her here, as she needed to reach the semi-finals to hold on to top spot.

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Sharapova, Petrova in Linz Open final

US Open champion Maria Sharapova was scheduled to face Russian compatriot — and defending champion — Nadia Petrova in the Linz Open final here yesterday with the aim of wrapping up her fifth title of the season.

Top seed Sharapova, who won the Zurich Open last weekend, managed to overcome Swiss third seed Patty Schnyder 7-5, 7-5 in her semi-final.

Petrova, also with four titles under her belt this year, eased past Czech fourth seed Nicole Vaidisova 6-1, 6-2.

“I was a little tired mentally,” Sharapova said.

“I never managed to get two or three games in a row,” she said.

Schnyder’s defeat also meant that the Swiss player missed out on a place in the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid.

Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis claimed the last two places in the event.

“We will see what sort of level we are at before the Masters,” said world number five Petrova, who had already booked her place in Madrid.

Petrova, 24, claimed her first career title here last year.

Sharapova Keeps Up Winning Streak

Yes, our tennis darling Maria Sharapova has kept up her winning streak since winning the US Open last month by knocking out fellow Russian Ekaterina Bychkova 6-4, 7-5 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals at the Kremlin Cup.

Sharapova, seeded second and ranked No. 3, led a record 15 Russian women into the draw and was in control in ousting Bychkova, a qualifier ranked No. 81.

Bychkova saved three break points in the first set before losing her serve in the seventh game. Sharapova broke to open the second set. But Bychkova broke in the sixth game and again in the eighth after Sharapova’s two double-faults to lead 5-3. Sharapova saved a set point and then won four straight games.

“I got a little bit sloppy in the middle of the second set,” Sharapova said. “I had a first-round bye and she had already played four matches. I don’t think I started badly.”

Some pics from the match:

Sharapova’s Opponent in the U.S Open Quarterfinals

Maria Sharapova will be in action today at flushing meadows against Tatiana Golovin in the U.S Open Quarterfinals.

Maria Sharapova vs. Tatiana Golovin

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