Garcia outclass Sharapova in Stuttgart first round

Monitoring Desk

ISLAMABAD: French sixth seed Caroline Gracia stunned the former world no.1, Maria Sharapova in the opening round of the Stuttgart Grand Prix on Tuesday.

The French player staged a fightback to win 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 and crashed out the Russian player in the first round.

While talking to media, Maria Sharapova said that definitely this was not the result that I wanted however I take a lot out of this match.

The five-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 31 last week, looked to be in control as she made just two unforced errors in winning the opening set.

Sharapova returned to tennis in Stuttgart exactly a year ago after finishing a 15-month doping ban for meldonium and reached the semi-finals.