Fearless Kerber stuns Sharapova

— -- LONDON -- Maria Sharapova may not have played her best tennis in a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 fourth-round loss to Angelique Kerber on Tuesday at Wimbledon, but she did demonstrate once again why she is one of the toughest competitors in the game.

Sharapova fought off six match points before finally pushing a backhand long in a 2-hour, 37-minute match that was certainly one of the most compelling in the women's draw thus far.

Women's tennis will crown its third different Grand Slam champion of the year after the elimination of Sharapova, the French Open champion. Australian Open winner Li Na lost in the third round here. It will be the fourth straight year the first three Slams will be won by different players.