Maria Sharapova: How Madrid Open Will Catapult Her to No. 1

Maria Sharapova will use the Madrid Open to regain the No. 1 ranking in tennis with ease.

The position is something she hasn’t held since 2008, thanks to a chronic shoulder injury she has had trouble bouncing back from.

Sharapova finally gave in and had surgery on the shoulder in late 2008. The operation sidelined her for 10 months, drastically impacting her rank and skills.

Now she’s on the rebound and hunting for the No. 1 spot again.

Last year Sharapova closed out the season at No. 4 and reached Wimbledon for the first time since 2004. She appeared in four finals last season as she battled back.

She has already appeared in four finals this year.

Now Sharapova finds herself in the midst of the Madrid Open and only 340 ranking points out of first place. She is second to only Victoria Azarenka, who also happens to be participating in the Madrid Open.

Sharapova recently defeated Azarenka a couple of weeks ago at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, but Azarenka leads the series between the two all-time 5-4. In 2012 Azarenka leads the series 2-1.

To say the Madrid Open is a huge opportunity for Sharapova would be a gross understatement.

Sharapova will get her shot at Azarenka again, and she’ll make the most of the opportunity. The two are becoming heated rivals on and off the court. Sharapova has proven she can beat Azarenka, but not for the No. 1 ranking.

Now would be the time to do so.

The last time Sharapova defeated Azarenka, it closed the gap to around 800 points. Sharapova might not regain No. 1 by the conclusion of the Mutua Madrid Open, but she can use the success to build momentum toward the French Open.

The 2012 French Open is where Sharapova can cement the No. 1 ranking and her legacy. Winning the French Open would give her the much-coveted career Grand Slam, something that is quite the rare feat in tennis.

The time is now for Sharapova. She’s finally healthy and at the top of her game. The competition is stiff, but Sharapova can use the Madrid Open to reclaim the top spot.

The journey to No. 1 for Sharapova begins with her third-round match against Lucie Safarova.

From there, the momentum she has been gaining will allow her to reclaim the top spot in all of women’s tennis. 

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