Molik Loss Clears Way for Sharapova at WTA Birmingham

Posted on June 9, 2005

If there was ever a tournament set-up to showcase success for the WTA's "global icon" Maria Sharapova, it is the DFS Classic this week in Birmingham, England.

Russia's next-generation pin-up girl and product-shiller barely trails world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, and won't catch her during the grasscourt season with titles to defend this week in Birmingham and at Wimbledon. But the top spot should come with little resistance this summer, with Davenport playing a light schedule and likely retiring at the end of the 2005 season, not overly-concerned about retaining the top spot.

This week in Birmingham Sharapova shares the spotlight with only one fellow Top 10er, Alicia Molik, who was eliminated Wednesday in her opening-round match by unheralded American Laura Granville 6-4, 6-2, Molik's first match in two months after an inner ear infection.

Five other low-rent seeds joined the No. 2-seeded Molik on the sidelines Wednesday in (7) Daniela Hantuchova (l. to Parra Santonja 7-6 in the third), (9) Marion Bartoli (l. to Tanasugarn, bagel in the second), (10) Nicole Vaidisova (l. to Daniilidou), (11) Virginie Razzano (l. to Washington 6-1 in the third), and (15) Maria Kirilenko (l. to (Q) Jackson).

Seeded winners dodging the upset bug were (5) Tatiana Golovin (d. (Q) Grandin), (6) Shinobu Asagoe (d. (Q) Tu 6-1 in the third), (8) Ai Sugiyama (d. (WC) Pratt), and (16) Sam Stosur (d. Aussie countrywoman (Q) Dominikovic 7-6 in the third).

"I saw her play yesterday and I thought she was really good so I am just happy to get through," the defending runner-up Golovin said of her qualifier opponent. "It's my first day on grass and it's always a bit different. You have to change your state of mind. Hopefully, my game will rise as the tournament goes on. This is great preparation for Wimbledon and I want to get in as many matches as possible."

Other un-seeds advancing were qualifiers Rika Fujiwara of Japan (d. Vento-Kabchi) and Venezuela's Milagros Sequera (d. (WC) Baltacha), and France's Stephanie Foretz (d. Morigami).

Scheduled for Thursday on the lawns are Tanasugarn vs. Foretz, (1) Sharapova vs. (16) Stosur, Daniilidou vs. (8) Sugiyama, (5) Tatiana "Hot Pants" Golovin vs. (Q) Fujiwara, (Q) Jamea "Action" Jackson vs. Granville, Parra Santonja vs. Mashona "Little Sis" Washington, (Q) Sequera vs. (3) Jankovic, and Chakvetadze vs. (6) Asagoe.