MIAMI: World number two Maria Sharapova crashed out of the Miami Open hardcourt tennis tournament on Thursday, ambushed by 97th-ranked Daria Gavrilova 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
The upset, biggest so far at the combined WTA and ATP Masters event, took one hour, 49 minutes and marked the worst defeat five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova has endured in Miami since she lost in the first round on her debut in 2003.
"It's sport, and I happened to lose the match," Sharapova said of dropping her second-round opener after a first-round bye. "Of course it's a bit of a surprise ... I'm expected to win.
"But that's one of the reasons why we play the matches -- you still have to go out and win it no matter if you're the favorite.
"Today I didn't," added the former world number one, who has never lifted the trophy in Miami despite five trips to the final.
Gavrilova, who only broke into the top 100 on Monday, let out a squeal of delight upon sealing the win.
"I still can't realize that it's my dream," said Gavrilova, who said she had dreamed of beating Sharapova ever since she saw her countrywoman beat Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final in 2004.
The surprise defeat of the second seed opens the door for a possible move by Romanian Simona Halep from number three to number two in the world rankings behind Williams.
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