Sharapova makes winning start in Birmingham; will face American in second round

On the first day at the AEGON Classic in Birmingham, Great Britain, Maria Sharapova made a great start to her week, as she won her first round match in easy straight sets to her unseeded opponent, while the No. 9 and 10 seeds were both ousted in straight sets.

Sharapova, who is now ranked at No. 73 in the world, advanced to the second round after defeating Stephanie Dubois with a score of 64 62.

No. 9 seed Bethanie Mattek-Sands fell to American Alexa Glatch with a tough first set score, 76(3) 63. Glatch will face Sharapova in the next round for a third round berth.

No. 10 seed Maria Kirilenko was also sent flying home, by Polish Urszula Radwanska, 63 63.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Singles - First Round

Alexa Glatch (USA) d. (9) Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 76(2) 63

Urszula Radwanska (POL) d. (10) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 63 63

(12) Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) d. Julie Coin (FRA) 76(1) 61

(13) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 64 64

(14) Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Severine Brémond (FRA) 63 62

Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 64 63

Jarmila Groth (SVK) d. Vania King (USA) 64 64

Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Stéphanie Dubois (CAN) 64 62

Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) 76(7) 62

Melanie South (GBR) d. (WC) Katie O'Brien (GBR) 64 16 76(5)

(WC) Elena Baltacha (GBR) d. (WC) Georgie Stoop (GBR) 63 64

(WC) Naomi Cavaday (GBR) d. Julie Ditty (USA) 62 76(2)