• Wimbledon, Day Five

Sharapova fends off Robson as Baltacha bows out

ESPN staff
June 24, 2011
Laura Robson got off to a blazing start against Maria Sharapova © Getty Images
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Wimbledon Day Five Gallery
Men's round-up: Roddick crashes out
Women's round-up: Wozniacki waltzes past Razzano

Laura Robson's Wimbledon campaign came to an end at the hands of fifth seed Maria Sharapova, but the British teenager was not outclassed by the three-time grand slam champion.

Former champion Sharapova was forced to battle from a break down in the opening set before fending off a Robson fightback to clinch a 7-6(4) 6-3 victory.

It was a nervy start from the 17-year-old, who saved four break points in her opening service game lasting nine minutes. Having safely negotiated the first hurdle, Robson's confidence grew, and she stunned the former world No. 1, storming to a 3-0 lead.

Robson was helpless to stop a Sharapova resurgence, but she hung on to force a tiebreak. The world No. 254 got off to a blistering start in the tiebreak, but Sharapova stepped up her level, winning five points on the bounce to snatch the opening set.

With the momentum firmly on her side, Sharapova tightened her grip on the match as she raced to a 5-1 lead. With Sharapova serving for the match, Robson dug deep to break back, but Sharapova held her nerve to book her place in the third round.

There will be no British women in the third round after Elena Baltacha let a first-set lead slip as she fell to No. 20 seed Peng Shuai. The British No. 1, who lost to Peng in their only previous meeting, started brightly but was unable to maintain her challenge, falling 4-6 6-4 7-5.

Baltacha had early chances to break, but was forced to save three break points in her second service game. In an evenly-matched opening set, it was Baltacha who made the breakthrough; capitalising on Peng's weak second serve to force a break, before a solid hold to wrap up the set.

However, the world No. 20 battled back to force the match to a decider after a single break of serve in the second set. Spurred on by a partisan crowd on Court 18, Baltacha twice forged ahead in the decider, only to be pegged back by the Chinese No. 2.

Two huge serves and an enormous forehand got Baltacha out of trouble as she saved three match points, but she was unable to stave off defeat.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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