Former champion Maria Sharapova put up a mid-match fight before bowing out of the Australian Open at the first hurdle on Tuesday, beaten 6-3 6-4 by Croatian Donna Vekic on Rod Laver Arena. With her projected ranking set to slip to 366, it left her pondering her future in the game.
The 32-year-old Russian was clearly still hampered by the shoulder injury that had restricted her to one previous competitive outing since her opening-round exit at last year’s U.S. Open.
Three wins in 12 months and a ranking of 366: Time for Sharapova to retire
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Australian Open order of play
Australian Open order of play
Vekic proved a formidable opponent on the court where Sharapova won the title in 2008 and the 19th seed raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before the former world number one found a way to get back into the contest.
Croatia end wait for second Hopman Cup as Coric and Vekic beat Switzerland in finalCroatia end wait for second Hopman Cup as Coric and Vekic beat Switzerland in final
HOPMAN CUP
CROATIA END WAIT FOR SECOND HOPMAN CUP AS CORIC AND VEKIC BEAT SWITZERLAND IN FINAL
23/07/2023 AT 20:41
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Sharapova bows out at Australian Open in final match of her career
SHARAPOVA PONDERING HER FUTURE
In the main draw on a wild card with a world ranking of 145, the 32-year-old Russian put up a dogged mid-match fight on Rod Laver Arena before crumpling to the straight sets defeat.
It was only Sharapova’s second competitive outing since last September’s US Open, where she fell at the first hurdle to Serena Williams.
Five-times Grand Slam champion Sharapova cut a forlorn figure in the post-match press conference as she was questioned about her injury problems. Sharapova is now set to plummet to below 350 in the WTA rankings.
“I’m not the only one,” she said. “You know, I can speak about my struggles and the things that I’ve gone through with my shoulder, but it’s not really in my character to.
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Vekic: I really felt that the crowd were supporting me
“So, I was there. I put myself out there. As tough as it was, I finished the match and, yeah, it wasn’t the way that I wanted.”
Asked directly whether her 15th visit to Melbourne Park might be her last, Sharapova said there were no guarantees.
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