Olympic Tennis 2012: Maria Sharapova Will Add Olympic Gold to Impressive Year

If the tennis season ended Friday, Maria Sharapova could look back on 2012 with fond memories. The Russian tennis star still has key matches to play this season, though, like Saturday when she'll add Olympic gold to her list of fond 2012 memories.

Women's tennis fans couldn't have asked for a more talent-filled final, with Sharapova facing off against one of her top rivals in Serena Williams.

While the talented American has bested the four-time Grand Slam champion recently, it would be poetic for Sharapova to earn her first Olympic gold medal against Williams.

Back in 2004, Sharapova stunned the tennis world by defeating Williams in that year's Wimbledon final. The two now find themselves on that very same grass during the London Games.

The 25-year-old Russian superstar already got one proverbial monkey off her back this season when she captured her first-ever French Open title earlier this summer. Sharapova has all the ability necessary to add an Olympic title to her already-memorable season, and there is no player better to win it against than Williams.

The decorated American hasn't had to go past two sets while in London for the Games, and she is the reigning Wimbledon champion, but her last big failure came in the tournament Sharapova dominated.

Williams was bounced in the first round at Roland Garros and was forced to watch her Olympic opponent capture her first trophy on the French clay. This tournament happened just one week after Williams lost in the semifinals of the Italian Open, which Sharapova also won.

Sharapova has won all three of her 2012 titles over the past five tournaments she's played. That fact means she's coming into the final with perhaps the most confidence she's ever had entering a match against Williams.

This matchup isn't going to be a dominant victory for Sharapova, as Williams has never failed to test the Russian athlete over her career, but it will be a defining moment for her when she is victorious.

A French and Italian Open championship paired with a shiny gold medal from the London Games would highlight quite an impressive season for Sharapova. She still has the U.S. Open to compete in for 2012 as well.