Former champ Sharapova stunned by Pennetta at U.S. Open

NEW YORK -- Maria Sharapova is out of the U.S. Open, upset in the third round by Flavia Pennetta.

The 2006 champion lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to the 26th-seeded Italian on Friday. Sharapova had been 12-0 in three-set matches this year, including her first-round win.

Pennetta broke serve to clinch the victory in a match full of breaks, with the third-seeded Russian struggling with her serve.

Sharapova had reached her first Grand Slam final since 2008 shoulder surgery when she was the runner-up at Wimbledon.

Pennetta will next face 13th-seeded Peng Shuai of China, who beat 19th-seeded Julia Goerges 6-4, 7-6 (1).

Meanwhile, Juan Martin Del Potro had little trouble moving on in his quest for another men's title.

The 18th-seeded Argentine beat countryman Diego Junqueira 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 Friday to advance to the third round. The 2009 champion was unable to defend his title last year because of wrist surgery.

While Del Potro had little trouble, last year's women's runner-up, No. 2 Vera Zvonareva, needed two hours to defeat No. 30 Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-4, 7-5.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal, No. 4 Andy Murray and No. 21 Andy Roddick were among those in action later.

The Zvonareva match in Ashe ended a long streak of lopsided affairs on the U.S. Open show court.

On Thursday, five matches produced five blowouts, in which the losers combined to win a total of 14 games.

No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Berlocq 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 to close out the day.

"One of the guys, on the way out, said, 'Listen, I paid 100 bucks and you're only staying for an hour and a half on the court. Give me something else. Give me a racket or something,'" Djokovic said.

Other winners Thursday included No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and No. 28 Serena Williams on the women's side and No. 3 Roger Federer on the men's side. In the best match of the day, in Louis Armstrong Stadium, No. 7 Gael Monfils lost to 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4.

After dealing with injuries all year, Ferrero -- a former world No. 1 -- is making his first appearance at a major in 2011. He has won two five-setters.

"This match means a lot for me because it was a long time that I didn't enjoy myself inside the court," Ferrero said.

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