Safina follows Sharapova out

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:47

Russian Safina, still searching for a first grand slam win, was beaten by world number 70 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic after having been made to wait three hours to start her night match and then having the court switched.

That was a direct result of Sharapova’s three-hour marathon defeat to American wild card Melanie Oudin and Andy Roddick’s fifth set tie-break loss to John Isner but it did Kvitova no harm as she completed a third set tie-break win 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-5).

The victory sets up a fourth-round clash with Belgian world number 50 Yanina Wickmayer, who reached the last 16 with a 6-3 6-4 win over Italy’s Sara Errani.

American teenager Melanie Oudin staged another major upset to reach the fourth round, knocking out former champion Sharapova in a three-set thriller.

Sharapova, the 2006 winner and seeded 29th this year as she continues her return from shoulder surgery, put in a woeful service performance as the American won 3-6 6-4 7-5 win.

“I just kept fighting and fighting and tried as hard as I could,” a tearful Oudin said on court. “I just can’t believe it.

“She double-faulted a couple of times and I kept putting pressure on her second serve.

“I served a really good last game and knew I needed to make some first serves, that was very important.”

Sharapova said: “I thought she played really well, she has many weapons and she certainly held her ground.”

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