Maria Sharapova’s latest big-match failure was overshadowed by the longest women’s match in Grand Slam history.
Maria Sharapova’s latest big-match failure was overshadowed by the longest women’s match in Grand Slam history.
The world’s richest female sports star was thrashed in straight sets by German dancing queen Andrea Petkovic.
But Francesca Schiavone needed four hours and 44 minutes to finally see off Svetlana Kuznetsova and reach the last eight.
The reigning French Open champion had to save six match points against the Russian before winning 6-4 1-6 16-14. The final set alone lasted three hours.
Schiavone, 30, who will now go to world No.4, said: “I hope one day to show this DVD to my son.”
John Isner and Nicolas Mahut set the world record at Wimbledon last year when their match lasted 11 hours and five minutes stretched out over three days.
Kuznetsova said: “I tried (to beat it), but apparently it didn’t work. She finished it earlier than I thought.”
Schiavone now faces No.1 seed Caroline Wozniacki in the quarter-finals. But former No.1 Sharapova is on her way home after losing 6-2 6-3 to Petkovic.