Sharapova advances to the third round of French Open

Maria Sharapova, who missed nearly two months of the season because of an injured right shoulder, reached the third round in the women’s draw, easily beating Jill Craybas of the United States 6-2, 6-1.

“I feel it at times in the match,” Sharapova said. “I try not to think about it.”

Up 2-1 at the start, Craybas held three break points at love-40. But Sharapova won the next 11 points, holding serve with the help of three forehand winners in a row, then breaking Craybas at love when the American dumped a volley into the net with the entire court open.

Aravane Rezai beats top-seeded Maria Sharapova - Istanbul Cup

Aravane Rezai beat top-seeded Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-4 on Friday to reach the final of the Istanbul Cup.

The 20-year-old Frenchwoman, who is ranked 62 in the world, was due to meet another Russian player, Elena Dementieva, in yesterday’s final of the clay-court French Open warmup.

“I am glad that I came here and I played a few matches before Roland Garros, though it is unfortunate to lose in the semi-finals,” Sharapova said.

Sharapova, who served seven double faults, is now looking ahead to doing well at the French Open.

“I have all the motivation in the world,” she said. “I have been working very hard in the last weeks.”

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Maria Sharapova Pulls Out of Italian Open

Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Italian Open due to a right shoulder injury. The second-ranked Russian hasn’t played since losing to Serena Williams in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami in March. She also pulled out of Rome last year with a foot problem.

Sharapova is Sochi Ambassador

Maria Sharapova has been lined up as a high-profile booster of Sochi’s bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion and last year’s U.S. Open winner, spent part of her childhood in Sochi — a Black Sea resort — before moving to the United States at age 9. "Sochi is the city where my love of tennis began when I was just 4 years old," she said. Sharapova will serve as an "ambassador" for Sochi in its competition against Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeongchang, South Korea. The International Olympic Committee will pick the host city on July 4 in Guatemala City. more