60 unforced errors as Sharapova crashes out

MARIA Sharapova admitted she paid for too many mistakes as she crashed out of the US Open in the third round with a 6-3 3-6 6-4 defeat by Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.

The 2006 champion, who had been the second favourite for the title behind Serena Williams, paid for 12 double faults and 60 unforced errors as Pennetta progressed to a fourth-round meeting with Peng Shuai.

Third seed Sharapova had won all 12 three-set matches she had played this year prior to yesterday, but she said: “I made way too many unforced errors. When you’re down 1-4 and you get yourself back in a position where you can win again and then start making errors, it’s just too inconsistent to win the match against her.”

The draw seemed to be opening up for Sharapova, who has been back on an upward curve, reaching the Wimbledon final and winning the US Open warm-up tournament in Cincinnati. But the service struggles that have dogged her since her shoulder surgery in 2008 have never been far away and that cost her again, although she tried to keep a positive outlook. Sharapova added: “I’ve had a much better year this than last year. Obviously it’s disappointing and it’s not where I want to be in this position, but it’s the way it is. It’s called tennis.”

Peng will be a tricky customer for Pennetta in round four, the Chinese 13th seed continuing her good form this year by beating Germany’s Julia Goerges 6-4 7-6 (7/1).

Second seed Vera Zvonareva won in straight sets against Anabel Medina Garrigues but the Russian certainly didn’t have things all her own way and took exactly two hours to claim a 6-4 7-5 victory. Zvonareva next plays Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabine Lisicki, who benefited from Venus Williams’ withdrawal on Wednesday and demolished young American Irina Falconi 6-0 6-1 in 52 minutes yesterday.