Maria Sharapova comfortably beaten by Angelique Kerber

  • Angelique Kerber beat Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-3 in 64 minutes on Saturday
  • The Russian tested positive for Meldonium at Australian Open two years ago
  • Her hopes of a triumphant return to Melbourne were quickly dashed by German 

Maria Sharapova’s hopes of a triumphant return to the Australian Open were left shattered when she was beaten with almost embarrassing ease by Angelique Kerber.

It was here at Melbourne Park two years ago that Sharapova tested positive for Meldonium, and this was not a much happier occasion as she was defeated in just 64 minutes, 6-1 6-3 by the resurgent former champion.

This was a fairly brutal third round draw against one of the form players of the tour, and after it the 30 year-old Russian is still waiting to make an impact at a Grand Slam after her fifteen month suspension that ended last April.

Angelique Kerber celebrates her Australian Open victory over Maria Sharapova on Saturday

It was a sobering night for Sharapova as her hopes of a triumphant Slam return were dashed

It was a sobering night for Sharapova as her hopes of a triumphant Slam return were dashed

Sharapova congratulates Kerber on her 6-1 6-3 victory in Melbourne on Saturday night

Sharapova congratulates Kerber on her 6-1 6-3 victory in Melbourne on Saturday night

She made the fourth round of the US Open and has fallen short here, and still looks short of the matches needed to get back to her best, with Serena Williams waiting in the wings to make a comeback.

It was also here in 2016 that Kerber pulled off a remarkable win in the final over Williams, which she was to follow up by reaching the Wimbledon final and winning the US Open.

The pressure of being world No 1 did not sit well with her and she sank to a ranking of 21 by the end of last season, although that is fast recovering and she won the Sydney International title last week, aided by Jo Konta’s former coach Wim Fissette.

Sharapova, whose ban came to an end last April, still looks short of top-level match practice

Sharapova, whose ban came to an end last April, still looks short of top-level match practice

Sharapova lost the first set in just 29 minutes and the match was wrapped up in 64 minutes

Sharapova lost the first set in just 29 minutes and the match was wrapped up in 64 minutes

Kerber was consistently excellent throughout the contest and advanced comfortably

Kerber was consistently excellent throughout the contest and advanced comfortably

Sharapova was broken in the very first game, and conceded the first set in just 29 minutes. The only time she got into the match was when the German’s level dropped after moving to a 2-0 lead in the second.

Kerber, who looks to have improved her serve and remains one of the game’s outstanding athletes, was far too solid and must be the favourite to make the final from the top half of the draw, especially after putting a potentially difficult opponent out so comprehensively.

 



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