Maria Sharapova flew out in the first circle of Australian Open

The Russians Dinara Safina, Maria Kirilenko, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova successfully started at the first Big Slam tournament this season, the Australian Open Tennis Championship with a prize pool of 7 million 650 thousand dollars.

The program of the first day on the Central Court of the Lever was honored to open to the Russians of Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko, whom the lot had already reduced at the stage of the first circle. Kirilenko, who was not among the "seeded" players of the tournament, outplayed the winner of the Australian Open-2008 with a score of 7: 6 (7: 4), 3: 6, 6: 4.

Sharapova associated big expectations with a performance at the Australian Open-2010 championship. A year ago, she could not protect the title in Melbourne due to her shoulder injury, but at the start of this season she seemed to gain the proper form. Maria's departure was an unpleasant surprise for her sponsors, who prepared for her a whole set of unique equipment, including hours and earrings.

In addition, in the matches of the first circle on the Melbourne Park, the sophisticated second Safina won the Slovaks Magdalena Rybarikova - 6: 4, 6: 4, Pavlyuchenkova - at Anastasia Sevastova from Latvia - 6: 2, 6: 4, Kuznetsova (3) - at Anastasia Rodionova (Australia) - 6: 1, 6: 2.

In the second circle, Safina will play with Regina Kulikova (Russia) or Barbora Gopalovova -Strykova (Czech Republic), Kirilenko - with Ivonn MoSbourger from Austria, Pavlyuchenkov - with Kuznetsova.

On the starting day of the first season of the Grand Slam series, another Russian confrontation awaits the fans - Elena Dementieva (5) and Vera Dushevina will fight on the Margaret Court for the ticket in the second circle. In total, fifteen Russians will join the fight on Monday.