Sharapova knocked out by Bondarenko

After a ten month lay off following shoulder surgery, Maria Sharapova looked on the verge of making a tenacious comeback to tennis. But it wasn't to be for the Russian, who was beaten in the quarter-finals by Alona Bondarenko at the Warsaw Open on Thursday.

Maria Sharapova of Russia falls on the clay during her  quarterfinal match against Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko during  the WTA Warsaw Open tennis tournament at Legia tennis courts  in Warsaw May 21, 2009.REUTERS/Adam Nurkiewicz (POLAND SPORT  TENNIS)

Bondarenko who took the first set 6-2 after breaking the former World No. 1's serve twice. The Ukrainian, who is ranked world No. 39, continued to dominate in the second set. Sharapova was unable to stave off the inevitable as the 2007 Warsaw Open finalist completed a 6-2, 6-2 victory fro a place in the semis.

Maria Sharapova, former world No.1, said, "You know, it's tough to feel bad because, I've been through much worse in the last ten months, so, you know, a loss to me doesn't really phase me, I just, I know what I could have done better and, definitely should have started off a little bit stronger and not given her so many opportunities to step in and attack and give her, and create angles. But, that's all right. I've said, I have many more matches to go."

Bondarenko's opponent in the semi-finals will be Anne Keothavong, who dominated Ioana Raluca Olaru to bag a 6-0, 6-1 win.

Elsewhere in the last eight, sixth seed Daniela Hantuchova beat Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.