Maria Sharapova crashed out in the first round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow by Magdalena Rybarikova. The experienced Russian tennis player lost her sets to Slovakia’s opponent, seeded eighth.
The Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova won her first title in the Tianjin Open tournament since her coming back to the professional career after a 15-month doping ban. Maria said that physically she felt well but it seems that it wasn’t enough to win today. Too tight schedule requires more rest for the athletes, Maria appeared on the Kremlin courts right after 48 hours after Tianjin Open.
Despite the loss o Rybarikova, Sharapova praised her Slovakian opponent, saying she played really intelligent tennis.
‘She played skilfully, running for every single ball,”
added Sharapova.
The match between Sharapova and Rybarikova
The pair traded breaks late in the opening set, which Bratislava resident Rybarikova eventually won in a tiebreak after one hour, seven minutes on the court. The second set was almost a carbon copy of the first, with Rybarikova breaking in the 10th game to take the set and the match.
“It was very difficult for me because it felt like the Fed Cup. It’s absolutely normal, Maria is a huge superstar here and she’s a real champion,”
said Rybarikova, who is seeking her fifth career WTA title this week. Later, she added that she is happy with a match and proud of its results. Sharapova’s loss is good for Margarita’s confidence, that is true, and that is fair play.
Maria Sharapova and Monica Puig will go to Puerto Rico next Monday and bring necessary supplies to the island which was hit badly by Hurricane Maria last month. The tennis stars will be there for the distributing water, medicine and other supplies.
