SPORTS
Monica Niculescu won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 against the five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova.
Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova suffered a shock defeat in the first round of the Qatar Open on Monday, dumped out in three sets by outsider Monica Niculescu. The Romanian, ranked number 92 in the world, 51 places behind the Russian, won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
In a match lasting more than two and a half hours, Sharapova hit 52 unforced errors as opposed to just 17 from Niculescu.
In blustery conditions, Sharapova also struggled to get to grips with the 30-year-old Niculescu's distinctive style, which relies heavily on a sliced forehand.
The former world number one, twice a winner in Doha, had been given a wildcard into the draw and was one the tournament's major attractions.
"I did a good job of winning the longer rallies, even though that's not really what I wanted to get myself into," said Sharapova afterwards.
"So, physically I felt good. I just got pretty passive in the end and starting making too many errors." It was the 30-year-old's first appearance in Doha since 2013 and her first match since losing to Angelique Kerber in the third round of the Australian Open last month.
Sharapova returned to tennis last April after completing a 15-month ban for failing a drug test.
A jubilant Niculescu described it afterwards as "a very good win" as well as "a tough match".
She added: "I love it how I play and I like to be unique and I think my slice forehand is a weapon.
"And when I feel good on the court then I play relaxed, I can be good and can be dangerous." Niculescu's reward is to play either Magdalena Rybarikova or wildcard Fatma Al-Nabhani in the next round.
Nine of the top ten women's players are competing in Doha this week, but arguably Sharapova was the biggest attraction.
Her defeat is unlikely to please organisers after the men's tournament in Qatar last month was decimated of big name stars through injury.
The competition could see a repeat of the Australian Open final as the world's new number one Carolina Wozniacki, and the woman she beat in Melbourne, Simona Halep, are seeded one and two in Doha.
In another Romanian versus Russian clash, Halep will start her tournament on Tuesday, playing against Muscovite, Ekaterina Makarova, a former world number eight.
Also through on Monday was world number 30 Dominika Cibulkova, who beat Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the world number 22, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4.
DNA TV Show: How did Donald Trump win US elections despite his several controversies?
Sunil Mittal's Airtel joins hands with Indian Army, becomes only private company to...
Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat to Amitabh Bachchan's Jalsa: 5 most expensive celebrity homes in India
IPL 2025 auction: 42-year-old England legend registers for first time, his base price is...
Stranger Things season 5 teaser reveals episode titles, release date confirmed as...
Singer Rahul Vaidya buys 3110 sq ft luxury apartment worth Rs 90000000, it is located in...
Nimrat Kaur asks Abhishek Bachchan ‘would you distract Aaradhya’, he praises Aishwarya Rai in reply
JEE Advanced 2025: Candidates now allowed to give 3 attempts, check details inside
Watch: MS Dhoni's video of playing golf with Donald Trump goes viral after US Polls
Viral: Italy's Lake Como's 'fresh air' can being sold for Rs 907, details inside
Ranji Trophy: Jalaj Saxena scripts history, becomes first cricketer to achieve massive feat
Gautam Adani congratulates Donald Trump on winning US elections, says, 'If there is one person...'
Meet Usha Chilukuri, who is set to become first Indian-origin second lady of US, she is wife of...
Delhi NCR: Traffic advisory issued in Ghaziabad ahead of Chhath Puja 2024, check routes to avoid
ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant breaks into top 10; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma suffer massive loss
NASA's Sunita Williams witnesses 16 sunrises, sunsets daily in space, here’s how
'India will…': Ricky Ponting makes BOLD prediction for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
From DU to Tesla: Meet man who works for Elon Musk, manages his company's...
Essence of Leadership: Insights from Ankur Saini
Who is Thomas Draca? First Italian player to register for IPL 2025 mega auction
IPL 2025 mega auction: Full list of players with Rs 2 crore base price
Meet man who quit Paytm after Rs 2048 crore deal with Deepinder Goyal's Zomato, he is...
Anushka Sharma can't stop laughing seeing Virat Kohli's funny move in unseen viral video - Watch
SA vs IND: Arshdeep Singh aims to surpass Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s all-time T20I record
Donald Trump reclaims US presidency, netizens win hearts with meme-fest
'Everyone will come to know...': LoP Rahul Gandhi's BIG statement on caste census in Nagpur
Thama: Ayushmann Khurrana reveals all about 'bloody love story', says it is....
'History’s greatest comeback': Israel PM Netanyahu congratulates Donald Trump on US Election victory
US Election Results LIVE: Donald Trump's victory speech; WATCH HERE
Arjun Kapoor hits back at haters post Singham Again success: 'To everyone who...'
'Let's work for global peace': PM Modi congratulates 'friend' Donald Trump on winning US election
Swiggy's next BIG step, set to challenge Mukesh Ambani ahead of IPO, collects Rs...
Amid divorce rumours, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai set to reunite for...
J-K Assembly passes resolution seeking restoration of special status of erstwhile state
CAT Admit Card 2024 RELEASED: Step-by-step guide to download from iimcat.ac.in
Kiki Hakansson, the first ever Miss World, passes away at 95
This company surpasses Apple as world's biggest company, it's market cap is Rs...
IPL 2025: Mitchell Starc breaks his silence on not being retained by KKR, says, 'I still have not…'
J-K: Encounter breaks out between security forces, terrorists in Kupwara
‘Our relationship with US…’: EAM S Jaishankar on US Presidential Election 2024 Results
Delhi-NCR AQI: No relief from pollution, Delhi air quality remains 'very poor'
Dev Diwali 2024: Dates, significance, how to celebrate, everything you need to know
Israel PM Netanyahu fires Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over 'lack of trust'
Swiggy IPO opens today, aims to garner Rs 11327 crore: Check price band, lot size and more