Melbourne: Former champion Maria Sharapova's return to Melbourne Park ended in a shock 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 defeat by fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday.
Sharapova, who won the 2008 title on her last appearance at Rod Laver Arena, posted 66 unforced errors and struggled with her serve on big points against her 58th-ranked opponent.
"I certainly had my chances, I just didn't execute," the 14th-seeded Sharapova told reporters after being dumped out of the year's first Grand Slam in three hours and 22 minutes.
"She was up and then I'd get back there and back in the game," added the former world No.1, who contributed to her downfall with 11 double-faults.
Sharapova, who was unable to defend her title last year because of a shoulder injury, added: "I just didn't take advantage of that (and) let her control the situation again."
After losing the first set in a tie-break, Sharapova rallied in the second to level the match but surrendered a break with her eighth double-fault of the match to trail 2-0 in the decider.
Kirilenko wobbled when serving for the match at 5-3 to allow Sharapova to break back, but coolly sealed the win after bringing up two match points.
"I think it's one of the best wins for me," said the 22-year-old Kirilenko, a five-time winner on the tour, whose last title came in Seoul in 2008.
"I start to feel much better in the second set actually. I start to feel that I can be aggressive, as well.
"I did more winners than in first set. From that point, I started to feel that, yeah, I'm playing good from the baseline and I can beat her."
Both players struggled with their serves throughout the contest and Sharapova gifted Kirilenko two set points in the first set before netting a backhand to go a set down.
Sharapova hit back in the second, breaking Kirilenko after a marathon game of nine deuces to lead 2-0 and then bringing up set point with a forehand winner down the line.
Kirilenko, unintimidated by her more highly-fancied countrywoman, held her nerve in the third set to post the tournament's first major upset.
She faces Yvonne Meusburger in the second round after the Austrian beat Swiss Timea Bacsinszky 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
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Safina muddles through Melbourne opener
Dinara Safina overcame a rusty performance to advance to the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, just a couple of months after fearing that she might not be able to play at Melbourne Park.
Safina, last year's beaten finalist, committed nine double faults and 39 unforced errors before eventually beating a dogged Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4, 6-4 in the first match on Hisense Arena.
The 23-year-old Safina, who missed the season-ending Tour Championships last October with a back injury, was nevertheless happy with her performance and felt her game would improve as the tournament went on.
"Let's say it was not an easy first round match. She's a very good opponent. She plays very good," the second seed said.
"I can start to build up much more confidence and using more my shots. I had some good moments and bad moments, but overall I'm happy I went through, and I'm pretty satisfied with everything."
Safina beat Rybarikova 6-0, 6-1 the last time they met at Roland Garros in 2008 but found the Slovak much more of a difficult opponent on Monday as she struggled with her timing while attempting to force her shots.
The back injury, which plagued her for the final three months of last season, at one stage had her thinking that she might have to skip the first grand slam of 2010.
"(But) I spoke with my doctor back in Germany (and) he told me for Australia Open for sure I'm going to be 100 per cent," Safina told reporters.
"(I) was doubting the tournaments before but my recovery went pretty fast and I was even ready for Sydney (last week)."
Having been reprieved, the former world number one was even starting to enjoy her tennis again.
"At the end of the last year I was tired, exhausted, like I had no more fun on the court," she added. "But now I feel like I'm back and I'm enjoying every moment on the court.
"Last year I was every time like pushing myself, like, 'okay, I have to do it'. But now I do it with a much more desire."
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