Sharapova loses in first round of Pan Pacific Open

No. 15 ranked Maria Sharapova of Russia was sent packing today by No. 67 ranked wildcard Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan in the first round of the 2010 Pan Pacific Open being played in Tokyo, Japan.

The 23-year-old Maria was the defending champion of this tournament, but was shown the exit door by a local resident and all-time Japanese # 1 Kimiko who turns 40 tomorrow.

Long-time Japanese crowd favorite Kimiko stunned the former world No. 1 Maria 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Kimiko advanced in 2 hours, 9 minutes, as Maria, still struggling with her serve, piled up 11 double faults and had her big serve broken five times.

Wozniacki Repeats at MPS Group Championships

Caroline Wozniacki, the defending champion at the MPS Group Championships, successfully defended that title Sunday at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The 19-year-old Dane won in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5 over 21-year-old, Olga Govortsova from Minsk, Belarus.

Wozniacki showed great determination in the 1st set, winning easily on three breaks of serve 6-2. Govortsova took a 4-1 lead in the 2nd set and held two set points at 5-3 before Wozniacki came back to win the final set 7-5.