It was not a good day in Madrid for former No.1s Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin, as both were ousted in their opening matches at the $4.5-million Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open.Sharapova was the first to go, falling to Lucie Safarova, 64 63. The No.11-seeded Sharapova lost the first four games of the match before kicking into gear, evening things at 4-all; but Safarova, who had scored Top 10 wins in her last two tournaments in Stuttgart and Rome, closed out the set and wound up breaking serve late in the second set before serving out the victory.
"I started slowly. I got myself back in it and had the window, but just didn't take it," Sharapova said. "I can't look back and think of losing though, I can only learn from it and move forward. I need matches to get my instincts back. It was only a few points here and there today that could have turned things around."
"She was injured after Indian Wells and I knew it was her first tournament on clay," Safarova said. "I thought it would be a tough match but I've done really well the last few weeks, so I was really looking forward to it."
Henin had a similar slow start against Aravane Rezai, falling behind 4-1 right out of the gates; she rebounded better, winning five straight games to take the first set and getting within two games of victory at 5-all in the second set, but that's when Rezai caught fire, reeling off eight straight games for a 46 75 60 win.
"I wasn't feeling my best today. I was ill after Stuttgart. I didn't have the energy I needed," Henin said. "Aravane was playing at a very good level though. It wasn't an easy day for me. I really wanted to win this tournament."
"I was preparing to play against her. I had the right tactics and fought as hard as I could," Rezai said. "I knew I could win. It wasn't Mission Impossible. She's a great player, but I went on the court quite positive and just played my game."
At night, as No.4 seed Venus Williams beat qualifier Stefanie Voegele, 64 62. Williams was coming off the worst loss of her professional career in Rome, falling to Jelena Jankovic, 60 61 - her previous worst loss was a 61 61 defeat to Martina Hingis in the 2001 Australian Open semifinals.
The only other seed in action was victorious, with No.15 seed Francesca Schiavone cruising past Alizé Cornet, a qualifier, 62 62.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Dominika Cibulkova, Alexandra Dulgheru, Vera Dushevina and Olga Govortsova also recorded first round wins.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Singles - First Round
(4) Venus Williams (USA) d. (Q) Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 64 62
(9) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 62 62
Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. (11) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 64 63
(15) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (Q) Alizé Cornet (FRA) 62 62
Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. Justine Henin (BEL) 46 75 60
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. (Q) Iveta Benesova (CZE) 62 62
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 64 76(2)
Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. (LL) Tathiana Garbin (ITA) 75 62
Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) d. Melinda Czink (HUN) 61 ret. (left shoulder injury)
Vera Dushevina (RUS) d. (Q) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 62 61
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