Sharapova stunned in Miami opening match

Sharapova stunned in Miami opening match

MIAMI - Agence France-Presse
Sharapova stunned in Miami opening match

Sharapova of Russia plays a match against Dania Gavrilova of Russia during Day 4 of the Miami Open presented by Itau at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 26, 2015 in Key Biscayne, Florida. AFP Photo

World number two Maria Sharapova crashed out of the Miami Open hardcourt tennis tournament on Thursday, beaten 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 by 97th-ranked Russian wild card Daria Gavrilova.
      
Sharapova, who has never won the WTA premier level title in Miami despite five trips to the final, was playing her opening match after a first-round bye.
      
The five-time Grand Slam champion endured her worst defeat in the event since she lost in the first round on her debut in 2003.
      
Gavrilova, who lives and trains in Australia and is pursuing Australian citizenship, only broke into the top 100 in the rankings on Monday.
      
The triumph, in one hour and 49 minutes, marked the 21-year-old's first career win over a top-10 player. She had never before beaten anyone ranked higher than 35th.