Sharapova beaten at French Open

Top seed Maria Sharapova was a shock casualty on the ninth day of the French Open after crashing out in the last 16 against fellow Russian Dinara Safina today.

Sharapova, playing in her first tournament since her elevation to world number one following the retirement of Justine Henin, claimed the opening set on a tie-break only to lose her way in the match and fell to a 6-7 7-6 6-2 loss in two hours and 52 minutes.