Former World No.1 Maria Sharapova commences her 2020 season with a loss as the American qualifier Jennifer Brady comes back from a set down to defeat her 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 in the round of 32 of the Brisbane International 2020 on Tuesday.
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Maria Sharapova went off to a flying start
Sharapova got on board with a confident service game. The 32-year-old wasted no time as she broke Brady in her opening service game to get a 2-0 lead. The games then went with the serves till the end of the set.
Jennifer Brady earned three break chances while receiving to stay in the set at 3-5, 40-0. However, the 5-time Grand Slam champion denied all the three break opportunities to serve out the set 6-3 in just 44 minutes.
In 31 minutes Maria Sharapova has captured the first set, 6-3 behind strong serving. She's a set away from a clash with Ash Barty #BrisbaneTennis
— #BrisbaneTennis (@BrisbaneTennis) January 7, 2020
The opening set belongs to @MariaSharapova!
She takes it 6-3 at the @BrisbaneTennis! pic.twitter.com/Ie4xR6eyWJ
— WTA (@WTA) January 7, 2020
Brady levelled back the match in the second set
The American was back on track in the second set as she held her first two service games at love. Sharapova also perfectly held her opening service game at love. However, Brady changed gears at the right time as she broke her opponent’s serve for the first time in the match.
Super strike!!!
Wow! 👀
What a shot from @MariaSharapova!#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/0bXK5SuOFf
— WTA (@WTA) January 7, 2020
The 24-year-old claimed five games in a row, breaking Sharapova twice before serving out the set 6-1 in 30 minutes to level back the match at 1-set all. Sharapova also received on-court coaching from her coach Alex Kuznetsov after she lost the second set.
Jennifer Brady fights back to take it to a decider!
Sealing the second set 6-1 at the @BrisbaneTennis! pic.twitter.com/UQLIokOZ8J
— WTA (@WTA) January 7, 2020
Coaching moment for Maria Sharapova after 2nd set. pic.twitter.com/6jojwYTWah
— Maarten vdMaazen (@myalansky) January 7, 2020
Brady seals the victory
There was very little to differentiate between the two players as they held their service games respectively till 4-4 without facing any breakpoints. Sharapova then went onto save a breakpoint and held a crucial game at 5-4. The set was then forced to go through the tiebreaker. Brady stepped up in the tiebreaker as she won the set 7-6(3) and closed the match in 2 hours and 16 minutes.
She will face the No.1 seed Ashleigh Barty in the next round of the Brisbane International 2020.
