Moody Sharapova slides out on tide of jeers at French Open

They were certainly pleased to see the back of her yesterday as she missed the chance of a first French Open title by spilling out of the fourth round 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 to fellow Russian Dinara Safina.

Too strong: Safina powers a return at Sharapova

For the second year in succession, the patrons of Court Suzanne Lenglen erupted into a chorus of booing as the top seed laboured on the second arena of Roland Garros.

The last time they showed their distaste was in her narrow victory over Switzerland's Patty Schnyder. On this occasion it was a defeat on her least favourite surface.

With the giant obstacle of Justine Henin removed from the field, Sharapova appeared to be nervous, and after having a match point while serving at 5-3 in the second set, she was dragged into a tiebreak, which she lost 7-5.

Even Sharapova did not appear to like herself much, using some choice language as she loudly chuntered on with the self-description of being a 'choker'.

She had, after all, been here before against this opponent, losing a tight three-setter in this event at exactly the same stage two years ago.

Game's up: Sharapova looks to the heavens as she is sent packing

She denied that the opportunity afforded by the absence of Henin was connected to the untimely exits of herself and the Williams sisters, although it is starting to look less and less like a coincidence.

Of the crowd reaction to her, which included Mexican waves while she was serving, she tried to be philosophical.

'I can't please everyone, that's not in my job description,' she said. 'I go out there and fight my heart out. They paid to watch me so they must appreciate me on some level.'

She slightly cast doubt on her participation in the DFS Classic at Edgbaston next week, although it was probably a momentary sulk.

Safina, the sister of twice Grand Slam champion Marat, now plays Elena Dementieva in an all-European quarterfinal line up with the emphasis heavily on the east.

Roger Federer is through to that stage in the men's draw after a straight sets win over Frenchman Julien Benneteau. He now meets big-hitting Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.

In the junior events, Britain's original representation of six in fact turned out to be seven, sort of, with one of them playing under the Australian flag against her wishes.

Johanna Konta, born in Sydney to Hungarian parents, is soon to be given British citizenship having just turned 17 . When that happens, she is likely to become Britain's leading female junior.

The granddaughter of Attila Kertesz, who played in Hungary's football team of the Fifties that starred Ferenc Puskas, she has divided her time between London and Spain since the age of 13 and her Australian accent has almost disappeared.

She is now based at Roehampton's National Tennis Centre and explained: 'I'm only playing as Australian now under a technicality as my passport is coming through this year. I am definitely becoming British. There is no going back.'

As the world's 15th-ranked junior, she may have a future in the game but her 6-4, 7-5 first-round defeat to France's Julie Gervais was in the more traditional British mould Junior performance of the day was Solihull's Daniel Evans upsetting Argentine eighth seed Juan Vazquez- Valenzuela in three sets, while Lancashire's Daniel Smethurst had a match point against No 2 seed Cesar Ramirez before losing in three.