Maria Sharapova got knocked out of the French Open in stunning fashion as she lost in straight sets against Lucie Safarova, the Czech 13th seed beating the Russian defending champion 7-6(3) 6-4.
After losing the opening set in a tie-break, Sharapova pulled herself back from 0-3 down in the second set to get back on serve – only to get herself pushed to deuce while serving at 4-5.
She then produced a double fault to give Safarova match point, which Sharapova only saved with a desperate lob onto the baseline that wrongfooted Safarova into putting the ball into the net.
The 13th seed recovered her composure with a brilliant winner to earn a second match point, however, and made no mistake at the second time of asking as the Czech smashed an unplayable forehand winner to knock out the second seed.
“It was an amazing match,” said Safarova.
“I’ve never beaten her in the past so it was amazing to get it, and amazing to get it on the centre court.
“I just tried to stay in the present and go for my best, and it was working well.”
The Russian had reached the previous three finals at Roland Garros, winning in 2012 and 2014, but could not handle her opponent’s steely forehand.
Safarova, who had never progressed to the quarter-finals on the Paris clay in 10 previous attempts, hit 20 forehand winners to unsettle the former world number one on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Sharapova, who had lost only one of her previous 24 matches at Roland Garros, dropped her serve in the third game but broke back in the eighth when her opponent double-faulted.
She then lost her fourth consecutive tiebreak of the season.
The Russian, who has five grand slam titles to her name, went 3-0 down in the second set but fought back to 3-3 after Safarova made a mess of a routine forehand at the net with the court wide open.
The Czech regained control and ended the contest on Sharapova’s serve with a forehand winner.
Safarova will now face Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, who knocked Italy’s Flavia Pennetta out of the French Open in straight sets.
Muguruza, the world number 20, served relatively poorly by hit 30 winners in the course of the match, and grabbed four of her seven break opportunities as she made the quarter-finals for the second year running.
Pennetta fought hard, breaking twice herself, but was outplayed on the key points by a player almost ten years her junior.
French Open – women’s fourth round results
13-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) beat 2-Maria Sharapova (Russia) 7-6(3) 6-4
21-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat 28-Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 6-3 6-4