Dulko stuns Sharapova, Zheng exits

Dulko stuns Sharapova, Zheng exits

BEIJING, June 25 -- Roger Federer's military-style jacket had its second airing at Wimbledon Wednesday but Maria Sharapova's latest outfit was packed away for a while after the 2004 champion got knocked out in round two.

Gisela Dulko of Argentina reacts during the women's singles second round match against Maria Sharapova of Russia in the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in Wimbledon of London June 24 2009.

The Russian, who made her name at Wimbledon when she beat Serena Williams in the final as a teenager, suffered a 2-6, 6-3, 4-6 defeat by Argentina's Gisela Dulko, a player she had dropped just three games against in their two previous clashes.

Dulko prevailed on her fifth match point when Sharapova, who was seeded 24th after a shoulder injury despite a world ranking of 60, fired a forehand long to send the Russian crashing out in the second round for the second consecutive year.

Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts during her match against Gisela Dulko of Argentina at the Wimbledon tennis championships, in London June 24, 2009.


Sharapova was not the only seed to tumble on another baking hot day in southwest London where huge crowds again flocked to the All England Club.

Two of the surprise semifinalists from last year, China's Zheng Jie and Germany's Rainer Schuettler, had their follow-up attempts cut short.

Zheng, the first Chinese to reach the last four of a grand slam singles which she did as a wildcard in 2008, was beaten 3-6, 5-7 by former world No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia. Schuettler, the men's 18th seed, was beaten 6-7 (3), 3-6, 2-6 by Israel's Dudi Sela while another German, Simon Greul, found fourth seed Novak Djokovic in fine form, the Serb booking his place in round three with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 victory.

Two-time champion Serena Williams advanced with a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 win over Jarmila Groth.

Sharapova walked on to Centre Court dressed to impress but her tennis looked decidedly second-hand as she suffered a terrible start against the sultry Dulko, dropping the first set in 35 minutes.

The Florida-based Russian, who returned from a nine-month absence from the tour in May following her shoulder problems, showed her characteristic fighting qualities to take the second set and looked favorite to win through.

However, Dulko responded in a thrilling decider and, despite spurning her first four match points, she held her nerve to make Sharapova the highest-profile casualty of the tournament so far.

Zheng Jie of China reacts during the women's singles second round match against Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia at the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on June 24, 2009.

Zheng Jie of China reacts during the women's singles second round match against Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia at the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on June 24, 2009.

Maria Sharapova of Russia returns the ball to Gisela Dulko of Argentina during their match at the Wimbledon tennis championships, in London June 24, 2009.

Gisela Dulko of Argentina returns the ball during the women's singles second round match against Maria Sharapova of Russia in the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in Wimbledon of London June 24 2009.
Source: Shanghai Daily