By Jilawatan

Centre court queen Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, has been sensationally dumped out of Wimbledon losing 6-2 3-6 6-4 to Argentina’s Gisela Dulko in the second round.

Dulko, who needed five knife-edge match points to seal victory after 2hrs 13min, goes on to face Russian Nadia Petrova for a place in the last 16.

But for Sharapova, defeat will cast further doubts over the ability of the sport’s most bankable star to ever return to her former powers following a 10-month absence from the tour nursing a shoulder injury.

“I just didn’t do it in this match,” said Sharapova who was playing in just her fourth tournament since her return.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said that just being here was an accomplishment. I wasn’t lying. I had the pleasure of playing on centre court which I didn’t have last year.

“It’s just unfortunate, the timing of my comeback and this only being the fourth tournament. I would have liked to have a longer season before coming here, but that’s just the way it is.”

“You think of these injuries as basically preventing you from playing your sport. But if you look at the bigger picture, there are many things that can happen that can limit you to doing things in life or even having a life.

“But if you have a good head on your shoulders, you also know that there’s a life to live and if you stay positive, everything’s going to be all right, no matter what and no matter how bad the injury is.”