Three-time defending champion Russian star Maria Sharapova faced upset defeat against Angelique Kerber of Germany by 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, in the second round of the Stuttgart tournament at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Maria Sharapova won four straight games to retain the first set but dropped in the second, and faded in the third while the Russian top-seeded held a 13-0 record in Stuttgart before the defeat.
Sharapove will lose the World No 2 ranking to Simona Halep of Romania when they are updated on Monday.
Meanwhile, Halep will meet Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals. The second-seeded Halep needed 81 minutes to defeat Sara Errani of Italy 6-4, 6-4, while the fourth-seeded Wozniacki had little trouble in defeating Carla Suárez Navarro of Spain 6-0, 6-3.
