PARIS — Maria Sharapova’s run of three straight years reaching the final at the French Open came to a sniffle-y end on Monday afternoon.
Sharapova, the defending champion and a winner here in 2012, lost, 7-6 (3), 6-4, to Lucie Safarova, a powerful left-hander from the Czech Republic.
Safarova, the No. 13 seed, struck 34 winners including consecutive forehand winners to end the match.
Sharapova, the second seed, contracted a cold on the eve of the tournament, and was notably hoarse and stuffy throughout the week. In the last changeover before she attempted to serve to stay in the match, she blew her nose several times.