Maria Sharapova: Why Tennis Star Must Win Big at 2012 French Open

Maria Sharapova needs to win big at the 2012 French Open.

Don't get me wrong, Sharapova is very good. But right now, she's having a hard time getting over the hurdle and winning the championships that matter.

Winning the smaller tournaments is all fine and dandy, but everybody knows that it's the big majors where a tennis player really makes or breaks his or her name. Sharapova hasn't won a major since 2008.

She's come close, and she's competed in finals, but close is not close enough as far as elite status is concerned.

It may be unfair, but we look at sports in such a "what have you done for me lately" mindset. That is what really hurts Sharapova in the here and now. Like it or not, 2008 is four years ago, and you can only live off your past accomplishments for so long.

It may be a harsh statement, but it's the reality of sports.

Nobody grows up wanting to be the second best, and nobody puts in hours and hours of training and hard work for the consolation prize.

Sports is all about one thing: winning. This is something that Sharapova needs to do very soon.

She was ousted at the Madrid Open by Serena Williams in quarterfinals and is still sitting at No. 2 overall in world rankings behind Victoria Azarenka. That's not a good look for a player that many consider to be elite, so she's going to really have to step up and prove that she's still one of the best in the world, if not the best.

As Ricky Bobby's father once said, "If you ain't first, you're last."

While that may not be factually true—actually, it really isn't—the premise of the quote is what's important for Sharapova. She needs to win a major sooner rather than later, or her status as the best of the best will be in jeopardy. A win at the 2012 French Open would be a great start, and I dare say that this is a win that she needs.