Australian Open 2020 news - Maria Sharapova vanquished by Donna Vekic, hints at quit plans

ByEurosport

Updated 21/01/2020 at 17:49 GMT

Former champion Maria Sharapova put up a mid-match fight before bowing out of the Australian Open at the first hurdle on Tuesday, beaten 6-3 6-4 by Croatian Donna Vekic on Rod Laver Arena. With her projected ranking set to slip to 366, it left her pondering her future in the game.

The 32-year-old Russian was clearly still hampered by the shoulder injury that had restricted her to one previous competitive outing since her opening-round exit at last year's U.S. Open.

• Three wins in 12 months and a ranking of 366: Time for Sharapova to retire
• Watch all courts and all matches of the Australian Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player
• Australian Open order of play
• Australian Open order of play

Vekic proved a formidable opponent on the court where Sharapova won the title in 2008 and the 19th seed raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before the former world number one found a way to get back into the contest.

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Sharapova bows out at Australian Open in final match of her career

Sharapova pondering her future

In the main draw on a wild card with a world ranking of 145, the 32-year-old Russian put up a dogged mid-match fight on Rod Laver Arena before crumpling to the straight sets defeat.

It was only Sharapova's second competitive outing since last September's US Open, where she fell at the first hurdle to Serena Williams.

Five-times Grand Slam champion Sharapova cut a forlorn figure in the post-match press conference as she was questioned about her injury problems. Sharapova is now set to plummet to below 350 in the WTA rankings.

"I'm not the only one," she said. "You know, I can speak about my struggles and the things that I've gone through with my shoulder, but it's not really in my character to.

Vekic: I really felt that the crowd were supporting me

"So, I was there. I put myself out there. As tough as it was, I finished the match and, yeah, it wasn't the way that I wanted."

Asked directly whether her 15th visit to Melbourne Park might be her last, Sharapova said there were no guarantees.

"I don't know. I don't know," she said. "I was fortunate to get myself to be here and thanks to (the organisers for) allowing me to be part of this event.

It's tough for me to tell what's going to happen in 12 months' time.

'I don't think Maria's time is up yet'

Even though Sharapova is set for a projected ranking of 366, Mats Wilander pointed towards another multiple Grand Slam champion when stating he does not think the Russian is finished.

Speaking on Game, Schett and Mats on Eurosport, Wilander said: “I’d like to go back to Venus Williams when she made the Australian Open and Wimbledon final as a 36-year-old in 2017.

'I don't think Maria's time is up yet' - but Mats analyses Sharapova's problems

“Venus had a time for a few years in between when she shouldn’t be playing tennis. Of course she was struck down with a virus so maybe that held her back.

“But I think that you’ve got to give somebody like Sharapova a little bit more time. She’s coming back still. She’s got the fire it looks like. Yes she’s a little slower, no she doesn’t have the same confidence, but at the same time she’s such a professional.

It’s tough because they put her on the big courts. When you’re not playing well as a past champion people start doubting and talking [about her future] like we’re doing, but I really don’t think her time has come yet.

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