Australian Open: Sharapova does not lift his head and spreads more doubts about his future

The former 'number one', 32, falls to Donna Vekic (6-3, 6-4) in his first first-round loss in Australia since 2010.

The third consecutive defeat in the first round of a Grand Slam left a very bitter trail in Maria Sharapova, who did not even dare to confirm his presence next year at Melbourne Park. “I find it difficult to say what will happen in the next 12 months,” the Russian tennis player revealed after her hard defeat to Donna Vekic (6-3, 6-4) at the Rod Laver Arena.

In the subsequent press conference, journalists asked former number one about the possibility that it had been his last game in a Grand Slam. “I don't know, I don't know,” zanj the champion in Melbourne in 2008 after her impotence exercise against the Croatian player. One more in its irremediable decline.

Sharapova, who has not lost in the first round of Australia since 2010, falls in the next weeks below the 350th position of the WTA rnking. So one of your options from now on may be to register for smaller tournaments. However, even that seems clear.

“I will not force”

“Now I have to know my body and know how many games I can play in the year. I will not force if that causes me physical problems,” he revealed about his recurring shoulder discomfort, exacerbated since August 2018. In the last year, he has only He was able to add three victories in 11 games.

In fact, his participation in the first 'major' of 2020 could only be certified after the invitation extended by Craig Tiley, director of the Australian Open. However, his inexplicable errors in the second set paved the way for Vekic, who was able to recover a 1-4 handicap to close his second round pass.

“I suffered a lot of injuries last year, but I work daily with my technical team to improve, because I still love this sport,” admitted the winner of five majors, 32, that last year broke up with Thomas Hogstedt to get in hands of Riccardo Piatti. However, the future plans of the Italian technician seem to pass more through Jannik Sinner, the new transalpine talent than Sharapova.