Former No. 1, Maria Sharapova, was sent packing in the 4th round at the 2011 Australian Open by No. 30 seed, #33 Andrea Petkovic of Germany.
Petkovic won the match in a surprisingly easy fashion in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. This is the first time the 23-year-old Petkovic has reached the Quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, and is the lowest ranked player remaining in the draw.
Petkovic had reached the fourth round when Venus Williams pulled out injured after just seven points, but looked right at home against a much more experienced Sharapova.
Petkovic has made up for her first outing at Melbourne Park when in 2008, the same year Sharapova won the title, she injured her knee in the first round against Anna Chakvetadze and was out injured for eight months.
No. 14 seed, #16 Sharapova was disappointing against Petkovic, serving five double faults and making 30 unforced errors to her opponent’s nine.
She has struggled since she returned to the tour in 2008 following shoulder surgery and looks a shadow of the player who won three Grand Slam titles and reached the World No. 1 ranking.
