Maria Mania Shut Down by Washington at WTA New Haven

"Maria Mania" came to an abrupt end Tuesday in New Haven when the No. 4-seeded Maria Sharapova lost in her opening-round match to American journeywoman Mashona Washington 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

"I can't be perfect all the time," said the teen Sharapova, who threw in 12 doubles faults during the match. "I still have so many matches ahead of me where I want to improve. It's all about learning, and at 17, I have a lot to learn."

Washington, the sister of former Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington, has struggled on the ITF/Challenger circuit almost exclusively since turning pro in 1995, and has never made it past the second round in seven appearances at Grand Slams.

"I think every player has that one big win or two big wins (in them)," Washington said. "And I was due for mine."

Washington reached a career-high ranking of No. 78 earlier this month, and has never finished a year inside the Top 100.

Other winners on the day were defending champ (3)Jennifer Capriati (d. Golovin) in her first match since pulling out of the Olympics with a hamstring injury, (7)Elena "Lina" Bovina (d. Marrero), and unseeded Daniela Hantuchova (d. Lee-Waters).

On Wednesday in New Haven on why-do-I-have-tickets-for-this-day are Irvin vs. Hantuchova, Raymond vs. Petrova, Schaul vs. Dementieva, Morigami vs. Dechy, and Kostanic vs. Jankovic.