French Open 2011: Caroline Garcia Gives Maria Sharapova a Scare in 2nd Round

 Yesterday seemed to be in the interest of the favorites while today seemed to squash them. The day was described as cloudy and windy, creating heavy balls that are not conducive to tennis.

After Kim Clijsters was upset earlier, people began to point to Maria Sharapova as the player to watch but someone should have said, "Not so fast..." Sharapova got a scare but eventually won 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.

The French crowd and Amelie Mauresmo cheered on their countrywoman, World No. 188 Caroline Garcia, a wild card, as she grew in confidence and outplayed No. 7 seed Sharapova in the packed Philippe Chatrier. She went up 5-1 in the first set to win it 6-3. 

Sharapova told ESPN, "I didn't feel like anything was going my way in the first set." 

Garcia continued to drive the second set up 4-1 but Sharapova took a third break back to increase her momentum and take the set 6-4. The match changed from there as the experienced former No. 1 managed to not lose a point up to the second game and won the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Seventeen-year-old Garcia hit big, loopy and angled shots that passed the 6'1" Russian and kept her running around on the defensive. She may have lost but she will be a player to watch.

Andy Murray thinks that Garcia will be the future World No. 1. Murray tweeted out, "The girl sharapova is playing is going to be number one in the world one day caroline garcia, what a player u heard it here first." 

She played the qualifying round last year, losing in her first match. Garcia made it to the second round of the Australian Open earlier this year.

Sharapova will play Yung-Jan Chan next. The Taiwanese player has never taken a set from Sharapova in the two matches that they have played. The last time they met was in 2007.

Meanwhile, the 15th seed, Andrea Petkovic, made it to her first third round in Paris. Even though she had less winners than her opponent, the German beat Lucie Hradecka 7-6(2), 6-2.

It was nice to see some Brits in the second round. Englands's top-ranked player, Elena Baltacha, earlier in the the day and countrywoman World No. 118 Heather Watson soon followed. She lost to the 16th seed Kaia Kanepi 6-1, 6-3. 

Roland Garros quarterfinalist Kanepi will face Ekaterina Makarova, who beat Swedish Johanna Larsson 6-3, 7-6(5).

Check out more pictures and the Tennis Now website HERE