Azarenka advances, Sharapova exits in Australian Open

Maria Sharapova joined Serena Williams in making an early exit from the Australian Open on Monday but defending champion Victoria Azarenka swept into the quarter-finals with an 18th straight victory at Melbourne Park. A day after Ana Ivanovic’s stunning upset of Williams blew open the top half of the draw, third seed Sharapova was also scratched from the title race with a 3-6 6-4 6-1 loss to Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova. Hindered by a hip niggle, the 2008 champion admitted that the year’s first grand slam had probably come a little early after she missed the U.S. Open and back end of last season with a shoulder injury.

Credits: Reuters