"If you cannot serve, you cannot rule."
—Bulgarian Proverb
It is not easy to ignore the appeal of long-legged tennis beauty Maria Sharapova. However, the worst mistake you could make is to assume that she toys with tennis in order to promote her modeling career. Such an assumption is not only unfair, it is unproductive.
A review of last year’s Australian Open gives you a definitive answer as to her competitive spirit and fierce determination.
She tore through the best competition they could throw at her, winning the 2008 Australian Open in convincing fashion. Relishing every bite, she chewed up the most elite players on tour and spit them out, one after another.
First, she overpowered Lindsay Davenport, 6-1, 6-3. She then rolled over Elena Dementieva, 6-2, 6-0, and finally laid waste to No. 1-ranked Justine Henin in the quarterfinals, 6-4, 6-0, and, in the process, ended Henin’s 32-match winning streak.
After that, she took out the super Serbs in the semifinals and finals, respectively—Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic. Sharapova never lost a set—it was a singularly stellar performance.
Moreover, it marked her third grand slam championship, having previously won at Wimbledon at age 17 and the U.S. Open in 2006.
Sharapova has the face and form that at once fosters and fulfills dreams. But what she wants most is to win and establish herself at the top of the women’s game in tennis.
That has been her life’s dream since she journeyed to the Unites States with her father at age six in 1994 to attend the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.
Her early life deprivation, including the struggle to survive and excel in strange surroundings, has imbued Sharapova with a mental toughness she masks with humor and quiet resolve.
Her relationship with her father has often been the subject of press scrutiny—but one must assume that their combined ambitions have been realized as she has soared to the top in tennis and as well on the world stage as an advertising diva and model.
Father Yuri never relents in his expectation to see his daughter live up to the promise of her talent...to compensate for the years of sacrifice.
Currently, Sharapova is 21 years of age and reigns tall at 6'2". She is right-handed and plays a two-handed back-hand. Her power comes from her swing volley when approaching the net or detouring lobs.
She plays angles, sharp and deep, with tremendous power and accuracy. In 2008, we saw the addition of a selected sliced backhand and experiments with a drop shot.
Her arsenal includes a powerful first and second serve. Sharapova has ricocheted rockets in excess of 126 MPH, counting on service winners or weak responses to allow her to take control of the ensuing rally.
Her serve has always been an integral ingredient in her success. However, she suffered an injury in 2007 that has reduced her effectiveness. The result has been an overabundance of double faults as she struggles to put the ball in play.
By changing her service motion, utilizing a more compact backswing, Maria hoped to reduce the stress on her shoulder—but her serve remained fairly ineffective and her game suffered. During the 2008 French Open, she served 43 double faults. Without her vaunted serve, Sharapova’s confidence flails.
Favoring the liquid surfaces—hard court and grass, her game comes alive as the balls fly fast and hard. She has not, however, done well on clay and feels uncomfortable trying to slide on the surface—calling her movements akin to a “cow on ice.”
Although she finally won an event on clay in 2008, the French Open still remains the only major she has not captured.
In 2001, she turned professional but only played in one tournament. She began playing the circuit full time in 2003, where she finished the year ranked No. 32 and was named the WTA’s newcomer of the year.
In 2004, Sharapova won Wimbledon and finished the year ranked No. 4. She won five titles that year.
Also finishing 2005 ranked No. 4, she became the highest ranked Russian for the first time in her career and she was the only player on the women’s tour to reach three grand slam semifinals.
Holding the No. 1 ranking for one week beginning on Aug. 22, 2005, she reclaimed it and held it for six weeks starting in September.
In 2006, she won the U.S. Open and climbed to world No. 2. An injury-riddled 2007, however, saw Sharapova fall to No. 5 in the world. She was no longer the top-ranked Russian, either, that honor going to Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Seeded No. 1 at the French Open after Henin’s retirement, Sharapova lost to Dinara Safina in the fourth round. After her loss in the second round at Wimbledon in 2008 and a subsequent loss at the Rogers Cup, Sharapova has been absent from the tour.
Tests revealed that she had been suffering from a torn rotator cuff since April of 2008.
Sharapova’s return in 2009 is eagerly anticipated because she is immensely popular with fans, both men and women.
With the No. 1 ranking bouncing from player to player after Henin’s untimely retirement, stability cries out to be established at the top of the women’s game and it could be fairly hotly contested early in 2009, marking the end of Jankovic’s shaky hold on the top spot.
Sharapova is certainly one of the favorites to reign over the women’s game as she begins her comeback in the land down under, trying to recapture the Australian Open crown she won so convincingly a year ago.
Does she have the right stuff? No doubt! Can she repeat? Time will tell.
"...If the serve returns, the game will surely follow."
—Old tennis proverb!
26 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
J.A. Allen 7 months ago
Hi Solo - just getting ready to head out for the day when i saw your note! Thanks, as always, for you support! You just are great...you look like her, you know! Let's get through the holidays and get ready for all the action down under! jaa
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J.A. Allen 7 months ago
btw - solo - thanks for your missive, as well...will study it carefully and respond! jaa
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
you always knew that I was gonna like this one ... very elegant sum up. Just changed the picture for a more positive energy outlook
picked it - cheers
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J.A. Allen 7 months ago
Well, I hoped it would touch you--editors keep changing my picture! I liked my original one! You know how much it means to me that you picked my article! Thanks...jaa
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
you always knew that I was gonna like this one ... very elegant sum up. Just changed the picture for a more positive energy outlook
picked it - cheers
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J.A. Allen 7 months ago
Did you see that this won pick of the day!? Did you know? I didn't even see it on the front page at all but of couse I was at work all day! Wow...thanks...jaa
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
haaa - congratulations
i still dont understand the theory behind it - but the mork-federer won it too .. and it made its rounds but it did not stay on the fronts
lovely - cheers
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
HOW IRONIC
that the one article - that you fretted least about (doin the rounds, being edited, being x, being y, being z)
won this ....
i have this lil smirk on my face that says - i was right ... if you just kick back and relax and dont think that every artidle of yours must be the next best thing to s-bread
it will be lovely -
it paid off now didnt it
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J.A. Allen 7 months ago
Who would have guessed - and now I have to admit that you are right - almost more than i can bare! I am indeed a happy person, especially now that i know how it works! thanks for the kind words or words that are pleasing, anyway! jaa
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
whos next ?
Marat's baby sister is a good option ?
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J.A. Allen 7 months ago
Yes, - I mentioned that to Maggie. I think Dinara would be fun to cover - because I love her attitude-she's frank and to the point...so you finally got someone to cover women's tennis for you! Actually, I was thinking about writing an article about Rafa!! Sensual Spaniard...what do you think--after Dinara! jaa
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
LETS KEEP rafa on a burner a bit ... am ALL for Dinara !
jaa- may be you could do a curtain raiser with your predictions for the women's side for OZ ?
i love OZ
so rather than one player - a prediction pool for OZ ? -
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J.A. Allen 7 months ago
Sounds like fun--i will give it a whirl closer to the 1st of the year...in the meantime - Dinara!
I thought maybe you would be so curious to find out what i could do with Rafa! Ah, well...later! jaa
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Rock 7 months ago
Terrific piece of writing even it meant saying things that are known. You love the game as much as you love Federer. Rip it across, JAA.
I agree she has powerful serve. It's just that I am not a fan of Maria. But looking at the way you described her I might just follow her game more keenly now.
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J.A. Allen 7 months ago
Hi Rock - Oohh - I don't think we have spoken before, although I read your cogent comments in other threads. So am very pleased you liked this. Actually - Maria isn't my favorite either but she certainly has the game to go to the top...i think mainly i like her spine--she is no weak sister!
I have to look at the world sometimes through eyes other than Roger's! I am such a huge fan of his but the game is the thing...please continue to read and comment because i love reading your remarks! Thanks! jaa
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Rock 6 months ago
Thanks a lot, JAA. Yeah, I'm following this site little regularly now. You are one of the top writers in here and would love to read diversified topics coming out of your brain.
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J.A. Allen 6 months ago
Hi Rock - I think you are a welcomed voice in our little entourage! Thanks for your generous remarks! jaa
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Rohini Iyer 6 months ago
sorry Jaa for commenting late....i liked this one....i can't say more than that because when i started paying attention to women's side of the game, sharapova was out injured..so i guess i have to wait for her play and then comment....[:)]
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J.A. Allen 6 months ago
Hi Rohini - Yes, you should watch her when she comes back in January--it could be her year! I see Serena is already out with an injury--I wonder if she will be back for the Australian? No need to apologize--always glad to hear from you, though! jaa
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Rob York 6 months ago
This is a good piece. I'm just late commenting on it and have anything meaningful to say because I haven't followed the women's game very closely. To me, women's tennis is really suffering from too little Henin. I find M.Shar's Canon ads far more fun to watch than her tennis, but that's just me. You do good work, though.
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Long John Silver 6 months ago
ROB -
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Long John Silver 6 months ago
Rob
you are a nice bloke and all that - but on a very humorous side
BACK OFF - on the MA-SHA bashin'
ha ha
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Long John Silver 6 months ago
you will like my next one - very sure of that
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Rob York 6 months ago
I have nothing against her, I just don't like her game. And I'm sure I will like your next one, I usually do.
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J.A. Allen 6 months ago
Hi Rob - thanks for the comments. I realize that Sharapova is not everyone's darling but she will be a factor in 2009 if her shoulder holds up. I understand from her comments that she has no problem with stepping away from tennis if she cannot return healthy...I hope, for her sake, and for tennis's sake that she can give it a run this year! We will find out shortly! jaa
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J.A. Allen 6 months ago
We always look forward to Long's next offering with anxious anticipation! So why keep us in suspense? We need some new stuff out there! jaa
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