Source: Jonathan Sacks, Examiner.com
Maria Sharapova got her big endorsement deal.
Maria Sharapova got her preseason tour around the world.
But what Maria Sharapova didn't get was past the first round of the Australian Open. The Russian star lost to fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4.
Nike created a special dress for Sharapova's 2010 Australian Open run, but it will only get to be worn once. Both Sharapova and Kirilenko played the match decked out in the traditional Aussie national colors, green and yellow, but it was the less well-known Kirilenko who got the victory.
Sharpova finished the match with 77 unforced errors and 11 double-faults, handing the match to Kirilenko, who will now face Austrian qualifier Yvonne Meusburger in the 2nd round.
While Maria Kirilenko is glad she made it through a difficult match-up with former world #1 and 2008 Aussie Open champion Sharapova, Sharapova herself will be left to examine what went wrong so she can move on with her season. Whether it was her grueling travel schedule, or if she is still recovering from the injury that impacted her 2009 season, Maria Sharapova still has a lot of work to do if she wants to return to the top of the women's tennis rankings.
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