MELBOURNE – Maria Sharapova on Tuesday became the first former
Australian Open champion to fall in the first round, exiting her
third straight major in the first round as she lost 6-3, 6-4 at the
hand of 19th seed Donna Vekic.
After another disappointing outing since returning from a doping ban
in 2017, the 32-year-old Russian said that she didn't know whether
she would be back at Melbourne Park, where in 2008 she lifted one of
her five grand slam titles.
"I don't know," the former world number one told journalists when
asked about 2021. "I was fortunate to get myself to be here ... It's
tough for me to tell what's going to happening 12 months' time."
"I can speak about my struggles and the things that I've gone through
with my shoulder, but it's not really in my character to," the former
champion said.
"So, you know, I was there. I put myself out there ... as tough as it
was, you know, I finished the match and, yeah, it wasn't the way that
I wanted."
The Russian kicked off her season with a 145th ranking, her lowest
since 2002, and made it to the Melbourne main draw only thanks to a
wild card awarded despite a first-round defeat to American Jennifer
Brady at the Brisbane International earlier in the month.
Since returning from the ban almost three years ago, the former teen
prodigy has not enjoyed the same success as in the past, with her
best result at the majors a French Open quarter-final berth in 2018 -
reached following a walkover win against Serena Williams in the last
16.
Sharapova reached the round of 16 in Melbourne last year but was
later unable to compete at the French Open, retired in her
first-round match at Wimbledon, and was crushed 6-1, 6-1 by Williams
in the first round of the US Open.
The match between the two former number one players, the biggest
brands in the women's game, maybe best exemplifies the dissonance
between the Sharapova that was and the one that is.
Hyped as a blockbuster, the 22nd encounter between the two turned out
to be an unceremonious thumping of the Russian lasting less than an
hour.
Sharapova part explained the one-sided affair then and the result
against Vekic on Tuesday with a lingering shoulder injury that has
plagued her for many months.
Still questions about her future doomed as she will now drop out of
the top 350 in the rankings.
"I haven't thought of my schedule moving forward from here yet," she
said when asked whether she would consider taking part in smaller
tournaments to help with her ranking.
And asked if she can get back into form to play the tournaments she
wants, the Russian was again uncertain.
"I would like to. I don't know... you know, I don't have a crystal
ball to tell you if I can or if I will, but I would love to, yeah."