Maria Sharapova was knocked out of the U.S. Open in the third round Friday after a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 loss to No. 26 seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy.
The defeat was the 2006 champion’s first loss in 13 three-set matches this year. “She’s a good fighter,” said Pennetta, who conceded she didn’t know about Sharapova’s record in three-setters. “You can never give up with her. You have to be focused until the last game, until the last point, actually.”
Sharapova made 12 double-faults, including two in the last game. She did not look sharp over a 2 hour, 29-minute match that featured plenty of nervous tennis. Sharapova made 60 unforced errors and lost four break points while trailing 2-0 in the third set. “I didn’t feel comfortable with most of my game today,” Sharapova said.
The loss by third-seeded Sharapova, the runner-up at Wimbledon this year, kicked yet another top player out of a wide-open draw. Already, the defending Wimbledon and French Open champions have been dispatched and two-time defending U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters didn’t enter because of an injury.
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