Russian star Maria Sharapova, who won her first trophy in more than two years in Tianjin on Sunday, fell in the first round of the Moscow Tournament, to Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova, 26th in the WTA, in two sets, 7-6 ( 7/3) and 6-4.
“I fought a lot today because I really wanted to show my best tennis in Moscow after an absence of ten years,” said the Siberian.
Sharapova, a former world No. 1, was playing her eighth tournament in Moscow since her return to competition in April, after a 15-month suspension for a positive meldonium test at the 2016 Australian Open.
“If it weren’t for the Moscow Tournament, I wouldn’t have come, having played five games in five days in China. It seemed to me that I was well physically, but it seems that not enough to win today, “he added.
Before Ribarikova she fell in the tie break of the first set and gave up her serve in the tenth game of the second, to fall in one hour and 55 minutes.
The title in China allowed the 30-year-old Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam winner, to move closer to the WTA Top 50 (57th since Monday).
The Moscow Tournament is played on hard surfaces and distributes $ 790,208 in prizes.
– Results of the Moscow Tournament day:
– Women’s singles – First round:
Irina Begu (ROM) defeated Elena Rybakina (RUS) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Vera Lapko (BLR) bt Maryna Zanevska (BEL) 6-2, 6-3
Magdaléna Rybáriková (SVK / N.8) to Maria Sharapova (RUS) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4
Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-3, 6-2
Julia Görges (GER / N.7) to Polina Monova (RUS) 6-0, 6-3. AFP