Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko Highlights At 2010 Australian Open

The tennis barbie statuesque Russian and the online sports betting favorite Maria Sharapova is making her first appearance since crashing out of the 2010 Australian Open first round. Maria Sharapova’s performance at the 2010 Australian Open last month wasn't the only thing getting bad reviews: message boards lit up with commenters slamming her outfit.

Maria Sharapova made 76 unforced errors and struggled throughout the game in no. 58. In the third and final set, it seemed that the 14th seed Sharapova was on her way to victory when she lead 2-0. But Maria Kirilenko fought back and took the set 6-4.

Maria Sharapova's lack of preparation for the Aussie Open was held as the main reason why she flopped royally. Critics pointed to her choice to compete at an Exhibition event instead of the two Aussie Open series events in Brisbane and Sydney as that which cost a positive start to the season in Melbourne. Maria Sharapova returned to the Australian Open this afternoon for the first time since winning it all in 2008. And Maria walked off the court a winner. Unfortunately for Sharapova, the winner was countrywoman Maria Kirilenko. Maria Kirilenko jolted the first Grand Slam of the 2010 season into overdrive in the first match at Rod Laver Arena, upsetting Sharapova 7-6 (4), 3-6, 5-3 in a 3 hour, 12-minute marathon during which Maria Sharapova committed 77 unforced errors.

Though Maria Sharapova was the richer, the taller and the louder of the 2 Russian Marias on the Australian Open’s Rod Laver Arena today, however, Maria Kirilenko was the blonder, the cuter and the sharper and the winner of todays 2010 Australian Open in the Women's Single 1st round.

Maria Sharapova said on an interview after her loss at the 1st round, "I could be disappointed or I could just take it as it is and just go back on the court and just keep working, I choose option two. A bad day's not going to stop me from doing what I love. I'll be back here on a Saturday of the second week, so you watch." Maria Sharapova, who missed last year's Australian Open because of a shoulder injury, committed 77 unforced errors and made her earliest exit at a Grand Slam since 2003, struggling with her serve and mobility.

Only twice before has the tennis superstar Maria Sharapova lost in the first round of a grand slam, at the 2003 Australian Open and the 2003 French Open. Back then, Sharapova had come through qualifying to make the main draw. In 2010, things were very different. Sharapova was appearing in Melbourne for the first time since she won the Daphne Akhurst Trophy a couple of years ago, since she missed last year’s tournament as she recuperated from an operation to fix the weakness in her shoulder.

Maria Sharapova rallied from 5-2 down in the deciding set, holding serve and then breaking Kirilenko to stay in the match. She dropped her own serve after giving Maria Kirilenko double match point. Maria Kirilenko said about beating Maria Sharapova, "It's never easy. I'm good friends with Maria, but I tried my best to win today -- I came here quite confident."