Melbourne (AFP)
Maria Sharapova (145th in the world) was beaten Tuesday in the first round of the Australian Open by the Croatian Donna Vekic (20th) 6-3, 6-4, so that the Russian has still not won a single match in a Grand Slam tournament for a year.
It will drop beyond 350th place in the world after the competition, according to the WTA, and it admitted not knowing if it would replay next year this tournament which it won in 2008.
"I don't know, I don't know," she answered AFP on the subject, remaining just as vague about the rest of the 2020 season.
"Honestly, I would answer you well, but I just don't know. I haven't thought about my program yet from here," said the Russian.
Invited by the organizers despite a difficult 2019, the 32-year-old former world N.1 fell to 147th place worldwide after his defeat in the first round of the US Open in August against Serena Williams, his last match in 2019.
Her most recent victory in a Grand Slam match dates from the same Australian Open in 2019, where she had reached the knockout stages.
In 2020, she was eliminated in the first round in Brisbane and dropped out in an exhibition match in Melbourne, a week before the Open, due to the fumes from the monster fires ravaging Australia.
But she says not to worry too much about her fall in the WTA ranking.
"Last year, I only played seven or eight tournaments, so I'm not sure my ranking has any real significance. I didn't really play and I was very injured. You have to take it all into account, "she said.
She hadn't lost in the first round in Melbourne since 2010, but has struggled to return to the highest level since serving a 15-month suspension for doping (meldonium). The positive control had been carried out at the Australian Open 2016.
For his part Vekic will face in the 2nd round in Melbourne the French Alizé Cornet (61st) or the qualified Romanian Monica Niculescu (129th).
© 2020 AFP