Sharapova stunned by Michelle at Wimbledon

LONDON: Maria Sharapova became the highest profile victim of Wimbledon's black Wednesday as Victoria Azarenka, Steve Darcis, the conqueror of Rafael Nadal, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga were among seven players forced out with injury.

Sharapova, the third seed and 2004 champion, slumped to a shock 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher De Brito, the world 131.

Her defeat out on Court Two came after she fell to the ground on three occasions and needed a medical timeout to treat a painful left hip.
The Russian's dramatic loss came on a day when there was a Grand Slam record seven withdrawals either through retirements or walkovers.
That could have been nine had Sharapova given up or even Caroline Wozniacki, a former fellow number one, had surrendered to an ankle injury picked up in her loss to Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska also on the troublesome Court Two. "I don't think I've ever fallen three times in a match before in my career, so that was a little strange," admitted Sharapova who was heard on the TV monitors telling umpire Alison Hughes that the court was dangerous. "Well, after I buckled my knee three times, that's obviously my first reaction."

World number two and Australian Open champion Azarenka withdrew just minutes before she was due on Centre Court to face Italian veteran Flavia Pennetta for a place in the third round.

A right knee injury, suffered in a fall during her first round win over Maria Joao Koehler on Monday, put paid to her hopes after an MRI scan showed extensive bruising to the knee.

French sixth seed Tsonga quit his match with Latvia's Ernests Gulbis with a knee injury at the end of the third set. (AFP)