Sharapova Ousted At The Kremlin

Maria Sharapova was knocked out of the Kremlin Cup just hours ago on what is already Thursday in Moscow, losing to a player from Belarus named Victoria Azarenka.

In her first match in almost six weeks, Sharapova, who had been nursing a shoulder injury, made 45 unforced errors and served seven double faults in a match lasting one hour and 49 minutes. It marked the third straight year of disappointment for the Florida-based Russian, who was was forced to pull out with a foot injury last year, and was beaten in the quarterfinals in 2005.

Earlier, Russia’s Vera Zvonareva recorded her first win in eight attempts over Amelie Mauresmo, when she came from behind to beat the sixth-seeded Frenchwoman 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round. After battling for over two hours, the unseeded Russian scored a decisive break in the ninth game of the third set before clinching the win at her first opportunity when Mauresmo, ranked 11, splayed her backhand on match point.