Maria Sharapova: Can She Get Back to No. 1 and Be Dominant?

Remember when Maria Sharapova was hardly considered a clay-court threat? Over the past couple of years, the Russian superstar has shattered any notion that she can't compete on the dirt.

And if she's playing well on the surface that's least conducive to her game, what does that say about her future prospects?

Is a return to the top of the rankings within her reach?

Her comeback from career-threatening injuries has been remarkable, and she's earned her spot as a solid No. 2 in the world. She's made the finals in two of her past three Grand Slam events, a sure sign of consistency, particularly with the depth displayed in the women's game today.

Sharapova has never made the finals of the next major on the calendar—the French Open—but has gotten as far as the semifinals.

It's the only Grand Slam she hasn't won, but in another nod to the unpredictability of the WTA Tour, her odds of doing so are as strong as anyone's. If she does this year, she would be in even closer striking distance of current No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who for most of the year so far has been dominant.

Azarenka's momentum, though, seems to have slowed on the clay while Sharapova's has only picked up. Already, Sharapova has won one of the biggest clay-court tournaments on the calendar—the Stuttgart event—and has made a deep run in this week's tournament in Rome.

After the clay-court stretch, the calendar turns to the grass-court season, where Sharapova first marked herself as a major champion, winning Wimbledon in 2004.

Given that she's the defending finalist at the game's most prestigious event, she'll be eager to prove that she can add another piece of hardware from there to the trophy case.

There's only one place for Sharapova to go—up. And if she gets there, with her experience and game, it would be difficult to imagine her not holding on with a vice-grip to the ranking pinnacle.