MOSCOW, January 3 (RIA Novosti) – Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova was beaten in straight sets by top seed Serena Williams in the semi-final of the Brisbane International on Friday.
Sharapova lost 6-2 7-6 (9/7) to Williams, the world number one, after a match lasting one hour and 43 minutes. Williams, the defending champion, will face second seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the final of the WTA’s season-opening tournament.
It was Sharapova’s first competition since she pulled out of the US Open in August with a shoulder injury. It was also her first event with her new Dutch coach Sven Groeneveld, whom she hired in November.
The Brisbane International carries a $1 million prize fund for women and is a warm-up competition for the Australian Open, the first grand slam event, which takes place from January 13-26. The prize fund for the men’s tournament at Brisbane is $436,630.
Tennis: Sharapova Out of Brisbane International
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Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova was beaten in straight sets by top seed Serena Williams in the semi-final of the Brisbane International on Friday.
