Sharapova Exits Early at Wimbledon; Federer Wins

Marat Safin of Russia reacts while playing Jesse Levine of U.S. during their first round singles match at Wimbledon, Tuesday, June 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

(AP)

Give Maria Sharapova credit for honesty. Before Wimbledon began, she acknowledged that a recent comeback from shoulder surgery made it too much to ask for her to contend seriously for a second title at the All England Club. Sharapova was right: She didn't even make it out of the second round. Playing poorly at the start and finish Wednesday, the 2004 Wimbledon champion lost 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to 45th-ranked Gisela Dulko of Argentina.

"Losses are tough — more here than at any other tournament," said Sharapova, who double-faulted seven times in the final set. "I would have liked to have a longer season before coming here."

With easy victories for past champions Serena Williams and Roger Federer, Sharapova's early exit counted as the most surprising development on Day 3 at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament — unless, that is, you count the weather.

The temperature was in the 70s, the sky was bright blue, the clouds were scarce and, for the third day in a row, not a single drop of rain fell. The only use the All England Club is making of Centre Court's fancy, new retractable roof is shifting it slightly to provide some shade for those seated in the Royal Box.

"It's good that it gets a little bit of a workout," club spokesman Johnny Perkins said.

Sharapova's opponent worried about being overwhelmed by the setting: Dulko's only previous visit to Centre Court was when she sat in the stands to watch a match. This time, Dulko was wielding a racket and trying to beat someone who not only has been ranked No. 1 and owns three major championships, but also won their two previous meetings by scores of 6-0, 6-1, then 6-1, 6-1.

Dulko, meanwhile, has only once been to the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament.

So who would have expected Sharapova to be the wobbly one?

Dulko claimed nine of the first 11 games, changing speeds effectively while Sharapova's errors piled up.