Defending champion Sharapova knocked out of Roland Garros

The biggest setback happened yesterday in the fourth round when the defending champion and world no.2 Russian Maria Sharapova was knocked out by 13th seeded Czech Lucie Safarova.

Much to the surprise of the Russian, the Czech proved too strong for Sharapova who lost in straight two sets 7-6, 6-4 - thus bringing any hope of the Russian dating with Serena Williams in the finals.

Serena Williams, eyeing her 20th Grand slam title was surprised in the fourth round when her fellow American Sloane Stephens  won the first set 6-1. However, Serena rebounded and won the next two sets 7-5, 6-3 to sail into the quarters.

As for the men, so far is so good as all eight top players including Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray, Ferrer, Tsonga, Wawrinka and Nishikori are in the quarters. 

Nadal is to face Djokovic - a tough battling match for Nadal to revive his lost glory - but Djokovic seems in no mood to giving up and may surprise Nadal in their quarterfinal duel.

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Serena tames Sharapova yet again - wins her 6th Australian Open

Sharapova (left) congratulates Serena for her sixth Australian title [Photo: BBC Sports]

Oh boy is she really good? Yes sure she is - the aging 33 years old Americana and world number 1 Serena Williams has yet a lot of youth left in her and she proved it by winning her 19th Grand Slam and 6th Australian Open title today.

Contrary to many beliefs that world no.2 Maria Sharapova would finally overcome Serena whocm she has only once beaten in 2004. And siince then, whenever they met, it was elder Serena lifting the winning trophy. It was Sharapova's 16th straight defeat against Serena.

Serena beat Sharapova 6-3 7-6 (7-5) and continued with the magic, the spell of which charms Sharapova so much that she crumbles and loses. Although today she put up a winning like resistance, Serena proved too good for her and won the trophy.

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Wimbledon Day 1: Djokovic, Federer and Sharapova move to 2nd round - Venus Williams Goes Home

The Day -1 at Wimbledon saw easy going for most of the players except one set back: the ouster of Venus Williams.

But let us first talk of the easy wins - World no.1 and defending champion Serbian Djokovic beat 

Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 on the Centre Court.

After the men's singles, Roland Garros winner and world no.1 Russian Maria Sharapova defeated Australian Anastasia Rodionova 6-2, 6-3.

On No.1 Court, world no.3 Swiss Roger Federer, who is eyeing the Wimbledon trophy for the seventh times, eased into the second round Albert Ramos of Spain 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.

And now comes the biggest set back of the day. American Venus Williams, though put in some reistance, was not able to tame the Russian Elena Vesnina who beat Williams 6-1, 6-3. Venus was also ousted from the second round of Roland Garros. But ouster from first round must have been very heavy for the American, who her sister Serena claimed was in good form. 

In other matches, 11th ranked Chinese Na Li defeated kazakhistan's Ksenia Pervak 6-3, 6-1 and 18th ranked French Richard Gasquet defeated German Tobias Kamke 6-2, 6-2,6-2.

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Sharapova Wins Roland Garros Women Single Final

Jubilant Sharapova with her Roland Garros Trophy

So that was it - the Roland Garros women single final Saturday afternoon today - and what a pleasing outcome, although much expected: World No.2 Russian Maria Sharapova winning over Italian Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 at Roland Garros Saturday evening on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The win today completes Sharapova's career Grand Slam and she becomes the became the 10th women ever to hold all four major titles.

While Sharapova made her mark in the history, there is yet another history making match Sunday, when Novak Djokovic meets defending champion Rafael Nadal. If Nadal wins, he will become the first tennis player to win Roland Garros for the seventh time. And if Djokovic wins, he becomes the 3rd man in the tennis history with four Grand Slam titles. Let us see who make the history Sunday. Do watch the match.

See more photos: Movin' Sports

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Queen Maria and Cinderella Sara in mismatch final

Martina Navratilova knows a thing or two about winning grand slam titles so when she describes tomorrow's French Open final between Maria Sharapova and Sara Errani as a "bad matchup", it does not bode well for the unfancied Italian.

Queen Sharapova [above] vs Cinderella Errani [below]

There is a fairy tale quality to the idea that the Cinderella Errani could gatecrash Queen Maria's Roland Garros ball, while all the indicators suggest the script is written for Sharapova to become the 10th woman to complete the career grand slam.

Read more: TVNZ

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