Sharapova out of Edgbaston

Eurosport - Sat, 13 Jun 20:43:00 2009

Maria Sharapova's Wimbledon build-up suffered a setback when she was knocked out of WTA Birmingham 6-4 6-4 by China's Li Na.

TENNIS 2009 WTA Birmingham 1/2 finals Maria Sharapova - 0

Sharapova, the champion in Edgbaston in 2004 and 2005, is still feeling her way back after over 10 months out with a shoulder injury and she showed signs of a quick revival by reaching the French Open quarter-finals.

But the unseeded Russian was plagued by errors on Saturday, suffering six breaks of serve in her 90-minute defeat.

"I definitely wasn't playing with the same intensity I had in the last couple of matches. Some days you have it, some days you don't," said Sharapova, who had never lost to Li, and had most recently beaten her opponent over three hard-fought sets at Roland Garros a few weeks ago.

"Against an opponent like her, that intensity has to be there every step of the match. I'm still getting used to a few things in my game. I just have to keep working, keep trying to get everything better and better."

Li, the fourth seed, will face 13th seed Magdalena Rybarikova in the final after the Slovakian beat India's Sania Mirza 3-6 6-0 6-3.

"My return of serve was so good today. I broke her many times so it did not feel like a grasscourt match," said the Chinese star.

"I lost to her so many times before, so I thought, if I lose again then I should not worry. That made me very relaxed today.

"I was up 4-2 in the second set and double-faulted twice. I was up 4-2 in the third set last week too. When I double faulted, I was thinking, 'What are you doing?'"

Rybarikova won a streakier affair with Mirza, dropping the first set but taking the second set at love and extending her streak to eight games in a row by building a 2-0 lead in the third.

Mirza tied things up, 2-2, and held even for 3-3, but the wheels fell off again as Rybarikova won 12 of the last 15 points of the match.

"She played aggressively from the start and it surprised me," Rybarikova said.

"I had to start playing aggressive myself. I think my serve was the key to the match. Grass is my favourite surface - I reached the junior final of Wimbledon and I like playing at the net. I'm hoping I can continue this in the final."

It will be Rybarikova's first final, her best results before this week being semi-finals at Tashkent last year and at Hobart and Pattaya City earlier this year.

Li has been to five singles finals previously, winning Guangzhou in 2004 and Gold Coast in 2008 and finishing runner-up three times, including Monterrey earlier this year.

AFP

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. Am fedup of people sucking on Maria all the time she­ shows up. How many slams she has comparing to Serena,­ Vinus, Kustenova and the rest???? Stop abusing the­ Eurosport for your own profit!!! We are British who do­ not agree with screamers!!! WE respect people like­ Roger and the like who hit the ball and shut their­ mouthes. Maria is finished anyway!

    From lulu, on Mon 15 Jun 5:47AM

  2. Am fedup of people sucking on Maria all the time she­ shows up. How many slams she has comparing to Serena,­ Vinus, Kustenova and the rest???? Stop abusing the­ Eurosport for your own profit!!! We are British who do­ not agree with screamers!!! WE respect people like­ Roger and the like who hit the ball and shut their­ mouthes. Maria is finished anyway!

    From lulu, on Mon 15 Jun 5:36AM

  3. There is always another time and another game, Keep­ you're head up and better luck next time, all the­ best little lass.

    From JamesH, on Sun 14 Jun 5:41PM

  4. Such a shame for Maria but she is getting better­ semi-final at birmingham.I think once she gets to grips­ with her new serve Maria will be fine.Good luck at­ wimbledon Maria hope you get to the finals.

    From AJ, on Sun 14 Jun 5:05PM

  5. Why Maria Why

    From Andreas, on Sun 14 Jun 12:12PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    stop playing tenis maria harapova!!
    play chest and­ shout!!!!!!!§

    From FIAKR, on Sun 14 Jun 11:13AM

  7. wishing favourable success to popular adorable Maria­ Sharapova to stay fully fit & healthy
    to be happy­ with Wimbledon progress
    a lucky draw,,, but of course­ she deserves a seeded position as a recent WINNER
    we­ hope to see her in the final again

    From ace.firstserve, on Sun 14 Jun 6:36AM

  8. Either way, let's at least have a cameltoe pic and­ not that dour portrait

    From Chemical Ali, on Sun 14 Jun 12:39AM

  9. Li is probably happy to see Maria's picture there­ instead of hers out of respect for Sharapova's­ efforts to come back from her fall off the WTA ranking.­ Sharapova has never been my favorite pro player, but­ one has to admire her courage and work ethic. And Li is­ perhaps the kindest of all women players. . . finally­ being able to see and feel herself as a world top­ player.

    From Hatsutking, on Sun 14 Jun 12:20AM

  10. CONGRATULATIONS DEAR MARIA FOR PROGRESS ON THE­ GRASS

    GOOD FORTUNE GO WITH YOU TO WONDERFUL WIMBLEDON­ FOR LUCKY DRAW

    TO ENTERTAIN & THRILL US ~~­ I'LL BE THERE COURTSIDE TO WISH YOU WELL

    From pitcrew66, on Sun 14 Jun 12:18AM

  11. The Noise Abatement Society will certainly be pleased.

    From Bobito, on Sat 13 Jun 7:33PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    mairia is a brainless player,, , , it's impossible­ to gain old condition,i'm quit sure

    From mikhail, on Sat 13 Jun 7:29PM

  13. go maria... it's not the end of the game. we will­ support all ur matches.grace

    From ebreo g, on Sat 13 Jun 7:10PM

  14. Mate, the title of the article is "Sharapova out­ of Edgbaston" not "Li into the finals of­ Edgbaston" so why the h_ll they will show Li's­ picture there?????

    From lexjade, on Sat 13 Jun 6:05PM

  15. Eurosport should have posted Li picture instead of­ Maria Sharapova.. She's obviousely failded­ advertisement if you insist on this discrimination. Na­ Li won the tournament and deserves her picture and not­ Maria who lost..Have some decency

    From Augustine A, on Sat 13 Jun 5:55PM
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