It’s over: with zero aces, 12 doubles faults and 60 unforced errors Maria Sharapova, the strongest favorite for the title besides Serena Williams, lost to Flavia Pennetta 6-3 3-6 6-4 in the third round of the 2011 US Open.
The Russian said she hadn’t felt comfortable with most of her game and she lost a three-setter the first time this year (she had a 12-0 record in 2011 when the deciding set had to be played). After being down 3-0 and 4-1 in the final set, Sharapova managed to get the score to 4-all, 15-30 on Pennetta’s serve. Then the downward spiral started for the Russian and the 26th-seeded Pennetta won all the remaining seven points to earn one of the biggest victories of her career in two and a half hours.
Of course, the 2006 US Open champion Sharapova didn’t accept the defeat lightly:
It’s disappointing to lose in New York. Losing isn’t fun for anyone because we work to win. We don’t work to try to lose. So when we’re faced with a position where we can win and we didn’t in the end, it’s tough.
(photo: sr_cranks)
I felt so sorry for Maria after she returned to 4-4 and then lost the match 6-4 without winning point on her serve. Her serve is really problematic-yes,there are days when it is good,but there are many days when it is horrible-days like yesterday,when not even her fighting spirit could make her through.I think she should change something about it,it is like this for too long time. 🙁
If she wants to win a slam, she must keep that serve under control.
apparently it is over before maria says it is
her serve is a big enemy of her! I remember her lost against li na on rg and yesterday i had a deja vu!
Flavia is a great player and she deserved this victory!
I’ve begun to feel this way for sometime, Maria’s game is at a cross road.Even with the women tour not being as dominant these days, Maria game has to may highs & lows. Against average players the intimidation factor recently, have won matches irregardless of her overall play. Against other players, Maria have to come with it, and her ability to consistently do so, is very much in question.
flavia said, “maria wasn’t serving like before”,, oh my poor maria 🙁 she loose her serve in 2008 and didn’t come back yet 🙁
i imagine one day maria will get her serve back and her defensive tennis still as good as this year 🙁
oh poor Maria, 12 times double fault. maybe her injury on shoulder not yet recovered.