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Story highlights
Maria Sharapova's run of fine form on clay ends at the Rome Masters
The Russian world No. 7 is beaten by Serbia's Ana Ivanovic
Tommy Haas upsets Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the men's draw
Birthday boy Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal set up meeting for first time since 2011
It was a bad day on the clay for Maria Sharapova as she was bounced out of the Rome Masters by Ana Ivanovic, Thursday.
It was the first time anyone other than world No.1 Serena Williams had beaten the Russian on the red stuff since the 2011 French Open.
Sharapova had been tuning up for this year’s grand slam at Roland Garros in fine fettle, winning tournaments in Stuttgart and Madrid, but Ivanovic stormed to 6-1 6-4 victory to end her run in the third round of the Rome event.
“My energy level today maybe was not the best,” Sharapova told reporters in Rome. “But Ana played a really great match, she came out with winners from all over the court and she was the better player.
“This can’t take anything away from the last two weeks and I’m quite excited for the week coming up for the grand slam.”
Ivanovic, the Serbian 2008 French Open champion, had lost her last seven matches against Sharapova.
Australian Open champion Li Na ticked off a 6-3 6-1 win over Sam Stosur while Serena Williams beat fellow American Varvarato Lepchenko to also advance to the last eight.
Read: New dad Federer defeated in Rome
In the men’s draw, Tommy Haas claimed a big win over Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka.
It was the 36-year-old German’s first top-10 win in over a year.
Wawrinka, the world No.3, said the upset would make no difference to his preparations for this month’s French Open.
“I am not focused on winning the French Open, it’s so far away and there are so many players ready to win,” he said.
“I know if I am ready, feeling good and my level is there to win a lot of matches but I don’t expect to win the French Open.
“There’s Rafa, you have Novak, Roger is going to be ready and fit. I need to focus on myself, on the draw, and to be ready.”
The eight-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal finds himself meeting old rival Andy Murray in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters.
Murray celebrated his 27th birthday with victory over Jurgen Melzer while Nadal cruised past Mikhail Youzhny.
The Wimbledon champion revealed low-key birthday celebrations before turning his thoughts to his first meeting with Nadal since 2011.
“I’ve had two cards and two cakes, but no presents or anything,” said Murray. “I’m hoping when I go home there will be some. If there isn’t a couple I will be pretty disappointed.
“It won’t be a bad thing to play against Nadal. I haven’t played him for maybe three years.
“With the French Open and Wimbledon coming up I haven’t practiced with him hardly at all either, so I would be quite interested to play against him before to see how his game has changed.
“It might be better to play against him now instead of the French or Wimbledon.”
