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.

Venus Williams Wins Second Straight at Abierto Mexicano TELCEL

Venus Williams won her second straight title in Acapulco, winning the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL for the second time in a row. But it was not an impressive win. It took Williams three sets to defeat No 60 ranked Polona Hercog of Slovenia. Hercog has never won a WTA singles title, yet took the first set off of Williams 6-2 before losing the final two sets 2-6, 3-6.

The first two rounds went by fine, but in the quarterfinals against world No.399 qualifier Laura Pous Tio, Venus was 5-1 down in the third set before pulling off one of her biggest career comebacks. The following semifinal against world No.164 Edina Gallovits of Romania was also a three-setter with the final score being 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.