Maria Sharapova: Why Sharapova Will Regain Control of Tennis After French Win

So much for being a self-titled "cow on ice" anymore for Maria Sharapova.

With her win at Roland Garros, Sharapova completes her career Grand Slam and also takes over the world No. 1 ranking from Victoria Azarenko.

Sharapova now has gained all the major trophies in the world of tennis. It has took her 10 years to do so after winning Wimbledon in 2004. She becomes only the 10th player in the history of women's tennis to win all four major titles.

After her win on the clay at the French Open yesterday, Sharapova talked about the accomplishments that she has gained in tennis throughout her career, and how she would never trade it for anything, to the Associated Press (via the Boston Herald):

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I love my work. I love playing tennis. I've had so many outs and I could have said, 'I don't need this. I have money; I have fame; I have victories; I have Grand Slams.' But when your love for something is bigger than all those things, you continue to keep getting up in the morning when it's freezing outside, when you know that it can be the most difficult day, when nothing is working, when you feel like the belief sometimes isn't there from the outside world, and you seem so small.

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Sharapova was able to easily take the final match against Sara Errani at the French Open. Although she did not have the greatest serving percentages across the board, and also had 29 unforced errors compared to Errani's 11, she was able to quickly dispose of her out-classed opponent. Errani, the No. 21-ranked player in the tournament, could not handle the hard-hitting Sharapova, who was able to finish off 37 winners on her opponent.

The match ended 6-3, 6-2, but even though she lost, Errani looked at the match as more of an experience. She goes on to say to the Associated Press (via The Globe and Mail):

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I don't expect to make finals in other tournaments. I played a good two weeks. It was incredible for me, but I just want to keep doing the same things that I was doing, normal things.

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The victory for Sharapova is more than just monumental. This could be the win she needs to gain back the dominance she once had on the sport. This would be the moment to do so, as that top spot looks wide open and could be taken for the unforeseen future.

If Sharapova can show that much dominance on clay courts, as she would admit to anyone is her weakest surface, what can we expect out of Sharapova in the upcoming tournaments?

With the big ones soon to be played, including Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open, it seems that if Sharapova keeps playing at the level she is showing, then this could be a career year for her.

After losing in the finals of the Australian Open earlier in the year, and now after her win at the French Open, we can only expect the same results to occur throughout the rest of the year. Sharapova will be part of many more finals before the end of the year.

At Wimbledon, Sharapova is coming off a finals appearance last year, but has had a few rough outings on the fabled grass courts. She has won there, however, which means she can not be counted out, especially with the level of play she has shown this weekend.

Following Wimbledon, the women will return to play in the Olympic games. Sharapova should be ready and excited for that opportunity, after she was not able to play in the 2008 games due to injury. Expect her to put a big effort together while representing her country. Many individual athletes love the opportunity to represent something bigger than themselves.

Just like the Olympics, it would be hard not to put the favourite tag on Sharapova for the US Open at Flushing Meadows. Not making it past the third round since 2007 is not the best result for Sharapova, but it is also not something she should worry about too much.

This year things will be different for her, and her outcomes at the US Open are expected to change. She won the tournament back in 2006, and if she plans on returning to that level, then she needs to step up her game to the same level she was playing while at the French these past two weeks.

Although she just finished off her career Grand Slam, took back over the No. 1 world ranking and showed that she is ready to play some of the best tennis of her career, Sharapova does not see that as crossing the finish line.

This is not the end for Maria, only just the beginning of a revived self, she makes clear to the Associated Press (via The Globe and Mail):

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I proved that no matter how many punches I took in my career, I've always gotten back up. I have a lot more in me to achieve.

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Sharapova is not done with tennis yet and not done with being a top player. This French Open win will only help carry her further in her quest to regain control and dominate the women's tennis game.