Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis sent packing

General / Editor / 14 March 2007 / Leave a Comment

Defending champion Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis have both been dumped out of the WTA event in Indian Wells.

The 19-year-old Sharapova suffered a shock 4-6 7-5 6-1 defeat to fellow Russian, Vera Zvonareva, while Hingis was sent packing by Daniela Hantuchova who beat the third seed in straight sets 6-4 6-3 and goes through to the quarter-finals against Israel's Shahar Peer.

"A loss is a loss it is always disappointing," said Sharapova, whose defeat means she will lose her world number one ranking to the Belgian, Justine Henin. "I am not making any excuses. There is no use in that. It is one of those days where it didn't happen."

It was Zvonareva's first win over Sharapova since 2004 and sees her through to play Li Na of China.

Hingis, meanwhile, admitted she too was well beaten.

"I knew from the beginning when I looked at the draw that I was going to play Daniela first. I didn't look at anything else," she said.

"She's smart. She knows what I am doing. She reads my game."

Zvonareva can be backed at 1.95 to see off Li Na and book a semi-finals spot, while Hantuchova is trading at the same price to get past Peer and secure a place in the last four.

Zvonareva is also available at 7.6 to go on and win the tournament, while Hantuchova is on offer at 10 to claim glory in California. Svetlana Kuznetsova is the favourite at 4.2.