Hantuchova, Pennetta lead early WTA withdrawal list

Daniela Hantuchova is among those on the early injury and illness bug list as the WTA season gets set to begin.

Hantuchova is suffering with an achilles tendon tear. Flavia Pennetta has pulled out of Brisbane with a stomach bug. Yaroslava Shevdova has pulled out of the Hopman Cup with a knee injury, and Anastasija Sevastova if out of Auckland with illness.

This is certainly not a good start to the WTA season. We hope this is not a preview of what is to come throughout the season. However, fans, buckle your seat belts and get ready. The season is about to begin.

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.

Seeded players Kuznetsova, Hantuchova, Shvedova, Peer, Rezai, Oudin, and Jie fall in 2nd round at Wimbledon

Shahar Peer of Israel was the highest seed to be eliminated in the 2nd round at Wimbledon 2010. The 13th seeded Shahar lost to No. 54 ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

It was a round that saw many seeded players fall to much lower ranked players. Some of the higher seeds included No. 18 seed, Aravane Rezai of France, who lost to No. 66 ranked Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, and No. 19 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, who was defeated by countrywoman Anastasia Rodionova 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.