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Krunal Dhabhi
<h1>Champion Maria Sharapova lost Opening Match</h1>
Stuttgart: Three-time guarding Stuttgart champion Maria Sharapova lost her opening claycourt match of the season Thursday, going down 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 to Germany`s Angelique Kerber in the German city.
The thrashing was Sharapova`s first at the venue in the wake of clearing to the title in 2012, 2013 and 2014 on the back of 13 progressive wins.
It additionally implies the French Open champion will lose her reality number two positioning to Simona Halep one week from now.
The thrashing for 28-year-old Sharapova finished a seven-year dash of 64 progressive wins on dirt in the wake of securing the first set.
Kerber, the world number 14, will confront Sharapova`s Russian comrade Ekaterina Makarova in the quarter-finals.
Sharapova, who skipped Russia`s Fed Cup semi-last win over Germany with a leg damage a weekend ago, was on course for an agreeable win at one stage, driving by a set and 5-4.
Anyhow, left-gave Kerber won three amusements in succession to sneak the second set 7-5 preceding in the long run taking triumph following two hours and 27 minutes.
Sharapova completed with 44 victors to 40 unforced slips while Kerber was 22-20.
World number four Petra Kvitova likewise endured a stun annihilation, beaten in straight sets by unseeded American Madison Brengle.
The Dane won only one claycourt coordinate in 2014 however with the French Open quick approaching she has enrolled the assistance of three-time Roland Garros champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario to be a piece of her training group this season.