Sharapova bundled out of Australian Open

Melbourne: Former world number one Maria Sharapova suffered a fourth round shock at the Australian Open on Sunday when she was bundled out 6-2 6-3 by Germany's Andrea Petkovic.

On the back foot from the start, Sharapova committed 30 unforced errors in a performance which underlined her struggles since her shoulder surgery in late 2008, the year she won the title in Melbourne.

Fourteenth seed Sharapova, a three-times grand slam champion, made a late charge from 2-0 down in the second set, saving two match points with a pair of rocket forehands.

But the Russian had dug herself too big a hole against a dangerous opponent and Petkovic completed victory in 79 minutes with a deep serve Sharapova could only push into the net.