Tennis: Swiss Qualifier Sees Sharapova Off Wuhan Open

Fourth seed Maria Sharapova lost out of the Wuhan Open in China to Swiss qualifier Timea Bacsinszky in the third round on Wednesday.

Bacsinszky, 25, overcame Sharapova 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 to claim her biggest win of her career. The No. 61-ranked player’s previous Top 10 wins came via retirement- defeating No. 8-ranked Daniela Hantuchova at Antwerp in 2008 and No. 10-ranked Victoria Azarenka at Beijing in 2010.

World number four Sharapova double-faulted six times in the first set.

She had her chances in the second set, but unfortunately was not going to be her day. Sharapova was a break up twice and, even led 3-1 early on- but Baczinszky managed to close out the contest.

Timea Bacsinszky Stuns Maria Sharapova in Wuhan. Image: Streeter Lecka/Getty
Timea Bacsinszky Stuns Maria Sharapova in Wuhan. Image: Streeter Lecka/Getty

The 27-year-old now joins Simona Halep and world number one Serena Williams outside the championships.

Williams withdrew from the inaugural £1.5m hard-court event on Tuesday because of viral illness, same day Romanian second seed Simona Halep lost 2-6 6-2 6-3 to Garbine Muguruza. The ousted trio of Williams, Halep and Sharapova are the only ones to have qualified for the WTA Finals in Singapore in October.

Earlier in the day Germany’s Angelique Kerber needed an hour and four minutes to dismiss Czech Republic’s Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 6-1.

France’s Alize Cornet, who benefited from Williams’ withdrawal in her last match, beat Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens 7-6 (7-4) 1-6 6-3.

Caroline Garcia of France and Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina are also through to the quarter-finals.