Sharapova Returns!
August 2, 2007
Maria Sharapova made a formidable start to the hardcourt season, the US Open champion crushing Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1, 6-3 in the second round of the San Diego Classic. The Florida-based Russian world No2 launched her title defense with apparent ease as she returned to competition for the first time since falling in the fourth round at Wimbledon to eventual champion Venus Williams. The two-time Grand Slam champion showedno sign of discomfort from the lingering shoulder worry which required a pain-killing injection in the spring. Sharapova skipped Russia’s Fed Cup tie last month against the United States amid harsh home criticism, saying she needed to rest her injury. The 20-year-old, who lifted last year’s San Diego title without the loss of a set, beating Kim Clijsters in the final, led a string of Russians into the third round. Three other seeded Russians and world No42 Maria Kirilenko all advanced in straight sets.
Maria Sharapova at the Children of Chernobyl Foundation (Photos)
August 2, 2007
Maria Sharapova’s TV ad for Canon
July 6, 2007
Maria Sharapova advances to the third round of Wimbledon
June 29, 2007
This time around is was a much easier ride for Sharapova as she defeated France’s Severine Bremond 6-0 6-3.
Bremond, 35 places behind the stylish Russian in the world rankings, looked headed for an embarrassing whitewash in a one-sided first set.
The French player, who was a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, put up a brief fight in the second set.
But the gritty Sharapova, who won Wimbledon at the age of 17 in 2004, never looked seriously troubled on a windswept Centre Court and earned a third-round tie against Japan’s Ai Sugiyama.
Sharapova Confident Ahead of Wimbledon
June 18, 2007
Maria Sharapova is feeling pretty confident before next week’s Wimbledon after finishing strongly French Open semifinals earlier this month, on one of her least favourite surfaces and while still recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for two months.
“I think that definitely gives me a lot of confidence moving on to the grass season,” the 20-year-old world No 2 said.
“If my shoulder holds up and goes the way it went the last two weeks then I’m definitely really confident.”
Jankovic upsets Sharapova
June 18, 2007
Maria Sharapova was searching for energy and Jelena Jankovic felt a “bit flat” Sunday in the DFS Classic championship after both players won early morning semifinal matches, but it was Janknovic who found what she needed to capture her fourth title of the year 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 and the first grass-court tournament of her career.
“I felt a little bit flat some of the time to be honest,” said Jankovic, a French Open semifinalist who has won on three different surfaces this season. “But I always fight, no matter what the score and in the final set I became more like the player I am.”
Sharapova was two points away from a 4-2 lead in the second set. She also had a chance to break early in the third.
