Maria Kirilenko upsets Maria Sharapova in a first-round matchup of Russians at the Australian Open | Tennis

MELBOURNE, Australia — Maria Sharapova was upset by Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4 in the first round of the Australian Open on Sunday, her worst performance at a Grand Slam event since 2003.

The 14th-seeded Sharapova was unable to defend her 2008 Australian Open championship while sidelined 10 months because of right-shoulder surgery. She failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals in the three other majors last year. The loss to Kirilenko in a matchup of 22-year-old Russians was her earliest exit at a major since her first-round loss at the 2003 French Open.

"Just didn't win the match ... bottom line," Sharapova said. "Certainly had my chances and just didn't execute."

Second-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia beat Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-4 in the first match completed on a rainy day at Melbourne Park.

U.S. Open winner Kim Clijsters, a Belgian who is seeded 15th, beat Valerie Tetreault of Canada 6-0, 6-4.

American Andy Roddick, seeded seventh, defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

Sharapova ended up with 72 unforced errors and 11 double faults. The Marias combined for 71 winners and 110 unforced errors in a 3-hour, 22-minute match.

Sharapova rallied from 2-5 down in the deciding set, holding serve and breaking the 58th-ranked Kirilenko to stay in the match. She dropped her own serve after giving Kirilenko double match point, though, her last forehand landing out.

"It's never easy. I'm good friends with Maria," Kirilenko said, but "I tried my best to win today — I came here quite confident."

Some matches on uncovered courts were delayed 45 minutes by rain.

Note

• Eleven fans were ejected for disruptive behavior and smuggling flares onto the grounds. In another incident, police said a group of Croatian supporters were denied entry after setting off a flare.

Victoria Police Superintendent Jock Menzel said the 11 ejected people were standing on chairs and bothering spectators during the match between Croatia's Ivo Karlovic and Czech Radek Stepanek. Menzel said he was not aware which player the ejected people were supporting.

At last year's tournament, there was a brawl between Serb and Croatian fans that included chair throwing.