Sharapova knocked out of Wuhan Open
World number four shocked by Swiss qualifier in third round and becomes latest high-profile player to exit Wuhan Open.
Maria Sharapova was knocked out of the Wuhan Open by Swiss qualifier Timea Bacsinszky 7-6, 7-5 in the third round.
Sharapova double-faulted six times in the first set, and was twice a break up in the second set, but couldn’t shake off Bacsinszky, who earned the biggest win of her career with a win over the Russian ranked fourth in the world.
Bacsinszky had two previous top-10 wins, the last in 2010, but both were by retirement.
A day after advancing at the expense of an ill Serena Williams, Alize Cornet of France reached the quarter-finals by defeating Francesca Schiavone 7-6, 1-6, 6-3.
The Italian led 3-1 in the last set.
World number three Petra Kvitova won her first meeting with fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Kvitova lost her serve once in the lasr set but wore down Pliskova.
In the quarter-finals, Kvitova will meet Caroline Garcia of France, a 6-3, 6-2 winner against CoCo Vandeweghe of the US.
Seventh-seed Angelique Kerber of Germany eased past Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1, and set up a quarterfinal against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who received a walkover when Garbine Muguruza of Spain couldn’t compete due to gastroenteritis.