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 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.”
Maria Sharapova Glad to be back on Grass
June 12, 2007
Maria Sharapova believes Wimbledon offers her the best chance of winning another Grand Slam title, despite continuing worry over a shoulder injury.
The 20-year-old Russian attracted more fans to her practice session Monday than any of the first-round matches at the DFS Classic grass-court tournament.
Sharapova in Wimbledon 2004:
Sharapova Advances to the semi-finals of the French Open
June 5, 2007
Maria Sharapova beat 20-year-old Russian Anna Chakvetadze 6-3 6-4 to progress despite her shoulder injury.
Chakvetadze, who lost to Sharapova in the quarter-finals of this year’s Australian Open, bowed out by firing a backhand return wide on the first match point.
Former Wimbledon champion Sharapova, who is hampered by a sore shoulder and said here she felt like a “cow on ice” on clay, will face Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic for a place in the final.
In the meantime the crowds at the French Open have Booed and Jeered Sharapova.
The Russian trailed 40-15 in the 16th game of the third set when she decided it was time to switch racquets.
She earned a time violation from the chair umpire but carried on unfazed amid the whistles and jeers to win the next four points and seal a 3-6 6-4 9-7 victory.
The spectators had turned on Sharapova in the previous game when she won a disputed point while serving at 30-0.
Sharapova is Sochi Ambassador
May 11, 2007
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
