In an unfortunate incident, Maria Sharapova became the highest profile prey of Wimbledon's black Wednesday as she is among the seven players who are forced out with injury. Others are Victoria Azarenka, Steve Darcis--the conqueror of Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Bizarrely, third seed and 2004 champion Sharapova slumped to a shocking 6-3, 6-4 defeat against Portuguese qualifier and the World no. 131 Michelle Larcher De Brito.
Sharapova’s defeat on Court Two arrived after she fell down on the ground at three occasions and required a medical help to treat a painful left hip. The Russian's dramatic defeat emerged on a day when there was a Grand Slam record of seven withdrawals either due to retirements or walkovers.
The number could have been nine if Sharapova had given up or even a former fellow number one Caroline Wozniacki had succumbed to an ankle injury which is responsible for her loss to Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska on the troublesome Court Two.
Sharapova was heard on the TV monitors complaining umpire Alison Hughes that the court was dangerous. She admitted that she doesn’t think that she has ever fallen three times in a match before in her career, so that was a bit strange. She added that after she buckled her knee three times, that is obviously her first reaction.
The unfortunate incidents didn’t halt here. World no. 2 and Australian Open champion Azarenka pulled out just moments before she was due on Centre Court to clash with Italian veteran Flavia Pennetta for a place in the 3rd round. A right knee injury suffered in a fall during her first round victory over Maria Joao Koehler on Monday slashed her hopes after an MRI scan revealed extensive bruising to the knee.
In another incident, French sixth seed Tsonga withdrew from his match with Latvia's Ernests Gulbis with a knee injury at the conclusion of the third set.
