Indian Wells: Pennetta knocks Sharapova out of fourth round

Defending champion comes back from a set down to win three-setter

INDIAN WELLS: Defending champion Flavia Pennetta sent world number two Maria Sharapova crashing out of Indian Wells in the fourth round, rallying to beat the five-time Grand Slam champ 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday.

Italy's Pennetta got off to a rough start in the opening set before settling in to take down the mighty Russian who had won twice here previously in 2006 and 2013.

Sharapova committed 11 double faults and was broken four times in the two hour, six-minute match.

"Maybe I wasn't playing my best tennis but I was competitive enough," said Sharapova. "I just wasn't able to step up in the key moments."

Pennetta advanced to the quarter-finals, where she will meet either Sabine Lisicki of Germany, who defeated France’s Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-4.

Pennetta, who won her 10th and biggest title of her career with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Agnieszka Radwanska last year, extended her match winning streak to nine on Tuesday.

Sharapova was hoping to become the first women to win the Indian Wells title three times. She started the season by winning her 34th career singles title in Brisbane, Australia then reached the Aussie Open final where she lost to Serena Williams.

This was the fifth career meeting between the two with Pennetta now having a 3-2 edge.

 
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