Former women’s tennis queen Maria Sharapova’s performance went in a similar vein. The Russian, who was making a terrific comeback in the sport after almost a year without practice due to injury, was down 6-0, 5-0 to Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova. She then made a break and won a game on her serve, but that was all she could manage. A depressing 6-0, 6-2 was the final score there.

Maria Sharapova (AFP Photo / Patrick Kovarik)

Meanwhile, Darina Safina has given Russian fans a lift after coming back to beat Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 and reaching the semifinals.

Going into the match, top-seeded Safina had lost a total of five games through four entire matches at Roland Garros – the lowest total at any Grand Slam tournament since 1994.

However, the ninth-seeded Azarenka broke Safina in the opening game and took the first set in only 23 minutes.

Safina went ahead in the second set by breaking serve for the first time, helped by two double-faults by Azarenka. And in the third she didn’t leave her opponent a chance – 6-2.

Safina is seeking her first Grand Slam title. She was the runner-up at the 2008 French Open and 2009 Australian Open.