Maria Sharapova – Wimbledon Ladies’ Tennis Player

Russian glamour girl and the darling of the media, Maria Sharapova, had a fabulous ending to her very ordinary 2007 season. The current number five in the world was given a reprieve at the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships when the eighth and final competitor, Venus Williams was forced to pull out of the tournament because of injury.

This opened a window of opportunity for the attractive blonde who was granted Venus’ vacant spot. She defied all odds by beating Daniela Hantuchova (no. 9), Svetlana Kuznetsova (no.2) and Ana Ivanovic (no.4) to reach the final of the event.

In the longest match of the tournament’s history, Belgian, Justine Henin rallied to beat an in-form Sharapova in three sets, 5-7 7-5 6-3. The match lasted three hours and 24 minutes.

What made the match even more remarkable is that Sharapova had been out of tennis for two months due to her recurring shoulder injury. Although she did not claim the title, she showed ability and tenacity by coming back with such strength.

Sharapova has won two Grand Slams – Wimbledon in 2004 and the US Open in 2006. What made her victory at the All England Club so impressive is that she entered the tournament as a wild card. She took on and conquered Ai Sugiyama, Lindsay Davenport and the indomitable Serena Williams to become the third-youngest Wimbledon ladies’ champion (after Lottie Dod and Martina Hingis).

From mid-2004 until her appearance at Wimbledon 2005, Sharapova had won 22 straight matches on grass. An in-form Venus Williams crushed the hapless Russian, 7-6, 6-1, in the semi-final, ending Sharapova’s impressive winning streak. Even though she was unable to claim the Wimbledon crown, she rose to the number one ranking in the world.

2006 saw her second defeat in the semi-finals at the tournament in London. Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon ladies’ tennis player, fell to eventual champion Amelie Mauresmo, 6-3 3-6 6-2. The 2006 season was undoubtedly her best. She was a semi-finalist at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, won the US Open, the Masters Series Indian Wells, San Diego and Zurich, ended the season ranked second and had an overall win/loss record of 59-9.

The majority of 2007 was very ordinary for the 20-year-old. She reached the final of the Australian Open, only to be easily beaten by Serena Williams, 6-1 6-2. She then went on to reach the semis at Roland Garros for the first time, but fell to Ana Ivanovic without a fight, 6-2 6-1.

She had an indifferent Wimbledon, where she lost to eventual winner Venus Williams in the fourth round. It was the first time she had lost in a Grand Slam fourth round! The rest of the season was fraught with injury and uncharacteristic wobbly serves and double faults. She had an awful US Open where she was defeated by relative unknown Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round. She had 12 double faults and 49 unforced errors in the match!

Her two month lay-off from the game has obviously been good for her. She is looking solid going into 2008, and all things being equal there is no reason why the Russian superstar cannot come back to claim the ladies’ singles crown for a second time in 2008.