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(January 17, 2007) It was billed as Maria Sharapova's return to Melbourne, but it was Maria Kirilenko who stole the show on the opening day of Australian Open play.
A screeching Sharapova silenced all comers – from Lindsay Davenport to World No. 1 Justine Henin to Ana Ivanovic – in capturing the 2008 Australian Open without surrendering a set.
Returning to Melbourne Park for the first time since she raised the title trophy, Sharapova squared off against her friend, former doubles partner and fellow Russian Kirilenko in today’s opening round.
In a titanic tennis tug of war that spanned three hours, 11 minutes, it was the 58th-ranked Kirilenko who pressed the mute button in shocking the 14th-seeded Sharapova, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4 beneath a closed roof on Rod Laver Arena court.
Converting her second match point, Kirilenko pressed her index finger against her lips in a symbolic shush of Sharapova while her boyfriend, Russian pro Igor Andreev, and coach Sven Groeneveld raised their arms in triumph.
Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
As the cameras clicked away in the post-match press conference, a stoic Sharapova tried to put the match - and her disappointment - into perspective. Sharapova squandered four break points holding a 4-2 lead in the first set as Kirilenko, covering the court beautifully and counter-punching effectively - held for 3-4. Kirilenko battled back from a 2-4 deficit in the tie break, stringing together five consecutive points to seize the breaker.
"Belief is something either you have or you don't," said Sharapova, who never looked completely comfortable on court. "Obciously, it's the first tournament of the year. And I just came up against someone who played really good tennis and that's just the way it goes."
It was Sharapova’s first opening-round loss in a Grand Slam tournament since she exited in the opening round of the 2003 Roland Garros at the age of 16. She had not lost a first-round major match in 24 Grand Slam appearances since then, but a combination of Kirilenko’s tenacity and Sharapova’s scattershot play on pivotal points sent the former World No. 1 spiralling out of the tournament.
The 22-year-old Sharapova entered the encounter as one of only three former Australian Open champions (reigning champion Serena Williams and Henin are the others) in the women’s field.
Competing with composure and using her fast feet and soft hands to extend Sharapova in rallies, Kirilenko combined determined defense with timely shotmaking in taking advantage of 77 unforced errors, including 11 double faults, from an erratic Sharapova.
Sharapova, who has struggled with her serve since returning from shoulder surgery last spring, double faulted to hand Kirilenko the break and a 2-0 lead in the decisive set.
The Moscow Maria had a game point for a 3-0 lead, but a surging Sharapova smacked a swing volley to draw even at deuce. A quality, crackling clash of forehands concluded when Sharapova could not control a backhand down the line and Kirilenko had a game point. When Sharapova sailed a backhand wide, Kirilenko collected a 3-0 lead.
A deliberate Kirilenko crafted a convincing love hold – leapfrogging a Sharapova return that landed long on game point – to collect a 4-1 lead.
Two games later, a lunging Kirilenko crouched low to absorb a biting blast of a return from Sharapova and flick an inside-out forehand reply to take a 30-0 lead. Opening the court with a wide serve, Kirilenko found the open court for game point. She sliced a serve out wide to draw a forehand return error and was one game from victory at 5-2.
A running backhand from Kirilenko missed the mark and Sharapova held for 3-5.
Stepping up to serve for the match, pressure constricted Kirilenko's swing. Right arm tightening, Kirilenko could not find her first serve in falling behind 0-30. Sharapova attacked behind a forehand swing volley and concluded with a backhand swing volley for double break point at 15-40.
Swooping forward, Sharapova turned her shoulders into another swing volley that rattled Kirilenko’s racquet as she broke for 4-5.
Sharapova started the match with successive doubles faults and her serve failed her again as tried to extend the third set. She double faulted then slapped a backhand into net to fall behind 0-30. Nerves knotted Kirilenko’s swing as she netted a routine rally backhand. But Sharapva sent a backhand long and Kirilenko exhorted herself with double match point.
Sharapova saved the first match point with a bold backhand, but misfired again and dropped her head in disappointment as she walked to net for the post-match handshake.