MARIA Sharapova is a still a girl with problems to solve.

Last year she was dumped out of Wimbledon by a fellow Russian, who dissed her fashion sense – the ultimate insult for a girl who always carries Cosmo in her kitbag.

This time she was dispatched 6-2 3-6 6-4 in the second round by Argentina’s Gisela Dulko, a feisty rival in the glamour stakes.

But for those who doubt her commitment to returning to the summit of her sport, citing injuries and off-court distractions, don’t doubt her blonde ambition.

“I’ve just got to move forward.

I don’t know how long it will take to get back to my old level,” said Sharapova.

“If I did know I would say but I honestly have no idea.

But whatever it takes I’m ready for it, no matter how hard it is.

“It was just unfortunate the timing of this being only my fourth tournament back after injury but this is just the way it is.”

Dulko dominated the first 11 games of an engaging encounter, dictating points to the former champion, pinning her to the baseline and leaving her flatfooted with a mix of gentle touch and booming power.

Sharapova then hit back to win seven on the spin and it appeared there would only be one winner.

Both exchanged service breaks as anxious errors crept into the decider and the 24- year old Argentine nervously squandered four match points before securing the biggest win of her career.

“To beat Maria, such a great champion, is a great day for me,” said Dulko.

“I didn’t play well in the second set but in the third I just kept fighting and trying to keep believing in myself.

“I was so nervous at the end because I wanted to win so bad.”

While it should not distract from Dulko’s battling performance, Sharapova is clearly still struggling from a lack of match practice following her shoulder injury.

She has played just five tournaments since last September but had enjoyed an encouraging run at the French Open, reaching the quarter-finals after some hard-fought matches on her least favoured surface.

“It took me a while to get going and when I did, it was too late,” she added.

“It’s difficult to assess what I could have done differently, I suppose I just made too many unforced errors.

“The losses are tough, more here than at any other tournament.”

Elsewhere, two-time champion Serena Williams was dominant as she bullied Jarmila Groth off court in less than an hour, winning 6-2, 6-1.

“I played really well but there is always room for improvement,”

said Williams.

“I could have returned better or come to the net more but I think it’s exciting when there are things to work on.”

Sharapova’s defeat leaves Williams as the only former champion in the bottom half of the draw.

“I’m not a player that wishes other people to lose,” she added. “I know how hard it is to become back from injury and I really feel for her.

* Leading life assurance and pensions company AEGON is lead partner of British Tennis and is backing the sport at all levels, from grassroots to world class tennis events. For further information visit www.lta.org.uk