australian open 2010: Sharapova makes early exit

The former world number one Maria Sharapova, making her first appearance at Melbourne Park since she won the championship two years ago, became the first major casualty of the tournament when she lost to fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 7-6, 3-6, 6-4.

Sharapova, unable to defend her title last year because of a shoulder injury, was a shadow of the player who stormed to the 2008 title without dropping a single set, contributing to her own defeat with 66 unforced errors and 11 double faults.

The match was played indoors after tournament organisors closed the giant roof on the Rod Laver Arena as rain disrupted the first day at Melbourne Park.

The Australian Open often falls victim to extreme heat but it was wind and rain that greeted the players when they arrived today.

The start of play on the outside courts was delayed for almost an hour then briefly postponed in the afternoon when the showers returned.

The featured matches went ahead as planned on the centre court and Hisense, which both have retractable roofs, with last year's runner-up, Russia's Dinara Safina, winning her opening match against Magdalena Rybarikova