Sharapova stunned at Australian Open

One comeback stopped, another gathering ominous momentum.
Russian Maria Sharapova became the first big-name casualty of the Australian Open as
the equally glamorous Maria Kirilenko aced her in a first-round battle of the lads'
mag favourites.
But another former world No.1, Kim Clijsters, shredded Canadian qualifier Valerie
Tetreault in less than an hour to move into the second round and confirm herself as
a serious contender for a second successive grand slam title.
Sharapova, on the comeback trail after shoulder surgery which sidelined her for
nearly 10 months, was philosophical following her 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-4 defeat in the
three hour, 22 minute all-Russian grunt-a-thon.
"Whether it's just a little bit of, maybe confidence ... obviously it's the first
tournament of the year and I just came up against somebody that just played really
good tennis," said Sharapova, who came up with 72 unforced errors despite having her
chances to win.
"I could be disappointed or I could just take it as it is and just go back on the
court and just keep working.
"I choose option two - that it's a bad day and you have to get on with your life.
"A bad day's not going to stop me from doing what I love.
"I'll be back here on a Saturday of the second week, you watch."
It was Sharapova's worst grand slam performance since being frogmarched out of the
French Open in the first round in 2003.
Far more convincing on her comeback was 15th seed Clijsters, whose fairytale march
to the US Open title in her third tournament after becoming a mother could well have
a reprise at Melbourne Park.
Clijsters made short work of Tetreault 6-0 6-4.
It was a win which gives her confidence her game is improving and her physical
fitness has lifted markedly since quitting the sport more than two years ago while
still ranked in the world's top five.
"I think physically, definitely, I've improved a lot because the way that I play,
it's a very physical type of tennis," Clijsters said.
"That was obviously my biggest concern, because I had those few injuries at the end
of my career.
"That was a big concern and I think physically-wise I feel stronger, and obviously
in my mind that's already a big advantage."
With several matches washed out because of rain which dotted the day, No.2 seed
Dinara Safina and No.3 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced with breezy straight sets
wins in their first round matches.
Safina became the first player through to the second round with a 6-4 6-4 win over
Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova, while Kuznetsova barely raised a sweat in ending
Australian Anastasia Rodionova's tournament 6-1 6-2.