Kirilenko shocks Sharapova in AO First Round

One thing was certain in the first match at Rod Laver Arena in the 2010 Australian Open - a 22-year old Russian named Maria will emerge victorious. But in many expert's list, the player would have a different last name. Instead, Maria Kirilenko proved them wrong by beating Maria Sharapova in three tightly contested sets 7-6(4) 3-6 6-4.

It was Sharapova's 77 unforced errors that did her, a number that included 11 double faults. Kirilenko meanwhile, was steady but intense. She did show some nerves after she got broken while trying to serve for the match at 5-3. In the end, it was Sharapova's winner-unforced errors ration that did her in. She made 45 winners, but 77 errors as compared to the other Maria who had 26 winners but a far less 41 errors.

The two Marias, friends off the court, produced a very competitive match to open up the Australian Open 2010 at the main showcourt. Sharapova's loss would be her first in a grand slam after 26 consecutive first round wins. She is the champion in 2008 and is in everyone's top five list to win the first major of the year. Instead, she has now lost before the fourth round in the last three majors she joined.