What Maria Sharapova's Loss to Lucie Safarova Means for Wimbledon 2015
Reigning champion Maria Sharapova was ousted from the 2015 French Open by Lucie Safarova at the fourth-round stage on Monday. She was attempting to win the season's second major for the third time in four years but fell well short.
The WTA's official Twitter acccount noted the star's exit from Roland Garros:
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Sharapova had been suffering with a cold in the early stages of the tournament, per the Associated Press (via CBC Sports), yet she had still advanced to Round 4 without dropping a set. That all changed against the aggressive Safarova.
It is the latest chapter in an eventful career for Sharapova on clay. The 28-year-old Russian didn't reach the final in any of her first nine appearances in the French Open. Then, starting in 2012, she reached the championship match three straight times and won the title twice.
The biggest difference was probably more mental than physical. She decided to start relying more on her usual power rather than altering her outlook because of the slow surface, and it worked. Being able to out-look opponents is a key advantage, regardless of the court.
She was once again among the top contenders coming into the event this year, which was no surprise. Nick McCarvel of ESPNW.com passed along comments from Sharapova before the tournament about her changing mindset over the years: "Five or six years ago I was afraid to open the front door of the clay season. It's definitely much more welcoming now. It's a great feeling."
Her confidence didn't lead her to another French title this year, but her outlook at Roland Garros still remains more positive moving forward than it did a handful of years ago.
More so than any other surface, clay requires athletes to be in physically tip-top condition. Sharapova's illness meant she faced an uphill battle from the start.
Now, it's time for her to look ahead to Wimbledon.
Of course, that's where Sharapova broke into the mainstream spotlight by winning the storied tournament back in 2004. She advanced to the semifinals each of the next two years at the All England Club, but her results have dropped off markedly since then.
Over her last eight appearances in the grass-court major, she's advanced beyond the fourth round just a single time. That was a loss to Petra Kvitova in the 2011 final.
In fact, the entire second half of the major schedule hasn't treated her well lately. Since 2007, the Australian Open and the French Open have resulted in 10 semifinal appearances and three Grand Slam titles. Wimbledon and the U.S. Open have yielded just two semifinal trips and no titles.
So after falling short at Roland Garros, she really needs to bear down and focus on producing better outcomes at two events that should fit her game well.
Sharapova is one of the most dangerous players in the women's game in any tournament she enters, but there's work to do if she wants to raise the trophy at Wimbledon in a few weeks.
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