semiFINAL

Maria was tested by Coco Vandeweghe in Wimbledon quarterfinal, but she managed to earn her place in the semifinals after a 3 sets match victory: 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 after 2 hours and 45 minutes.

After the quarterfinal, Maria said: "I've played five matches already, I've faced different challenges, matches, opponents, circumstances - the first four matches I was playing quite well and got the job done in two sets."

"Today, serving for the second set, I could have made it easier. It went to a third, but I still got the job done. I have to be pleased with that, that I'm in the semifinals again here after so many years."

"It's a special feeling.I had a really tough match last year against Kerber. Everyone looks at results, but I really felt like although I lost in the fourth round, my game on grass had really improved. I really felt confident. It was tough, because I felt a few points could have changed things around, and from then on you really never know how things will evolve and what chances you might have."

"Overall I'm happy I was able to take that loss and move up a few steps further this year."

"I haven't seen the names on the trophy in a while because I haven't held the trophy in many years. I've only seen it on the board. I know it's there, but I'd love to see it again to make sure it's still there!"

"Obviously being a small part of its history is an incredible feeling. It's something that I'll be able to cherish for the rest of my life - to be able to tell my future children that mommy won Wimbledon, I have proof. It's on the trophy. It's an incredible achievement. As you go about your tennis career, you don't always realize your accomplishments because you're so busy, and you're just always thinking about the next one, the next event, just trying to do something better and keep going. You never have the time to slow down and really appreciate all of your accomplishments, even as a young teenage girl."

"So I think I'll really be able to share those memories with my kids with I'm older."

The semifinal will be like a final for Maria because she will play against Serena Williams of United States. The last victory of Maria against Serena is dated in 2004 at the WTA Championships when she defeated the american player in 3 sets: 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to win the title.

Maria has only 2 victories in 19 matches against Serena. 

GO MARIA!!!

Another step forward

Victory for Maria in Wimbledon 4th Round against Zarina Diyas in straight sets: 6-4, 6-4 after one hour and 37 minutes of play.

After the match, Maria said: "Looking back at last year's match against Kerber, it was a tough three-setter, a very physical match, and I didn't come through. Of course you always think back, think about what could have happened if you'd managed to win a few of those points, and how far you could have gone."

"Obviously, being back in the situation of the fourth round at Wimbledon, I tried to put all of my effort to get further," the Russian continued. "And as we all know, it will only get tougher from here."

In quarterfinals, Maria will play against Coco Vandeweghe of United States. About her next opponent, Maria said: "I think it's been a tremendous effort for her to get to this stage," Sharapova said. "Her game really revolves around that serve, and she's been using it quite effectively in her previous four matches."

"It's always tricky playing against a really good server on grass, because a few points here and there can ultimately tell the difference in the winner and the loser. But I'm looking forward to that match-up."

Maria never played Vandeweghe before.

GO MARIA!!!

Maria in 4th Round!

Maria won her 3rd Round match at Wimbledon against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3 after one hour and 23 minutes of play.

After the match, Maria said:"Considering I didn't play a tournament before Wimbledon, with each match I've had a different type of opponent on different courts, and I've been handling it quite well.Today was another match against a big server and a big hitter, and on grass that can be quite dangerous.

"I was quite happy that I was able to win the match in a solid two sets."

In 4th Round, Maria will play agianst Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan. About her next opponent, Maria said: "I played Diyas in Australia. I think that was our first meeting.

"This one will be a new match, and a chance to get to the quarterfinals, a place where I lost last year."

On head to head, Maria leads Diyas: 1-0. Their only match was this year at Australian Open, when Maria won in striaght sets: 6-1, 6-1.

GO MARIA!!!

Marching on!

Another straight set victory for Maria at Wimbledon after only one hour and 5 minutes against Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands: 6-3, 6-1.

After the 2nd Round match, Maria said: "I didn't find the rhythm on my serve in a few of those games. I think the good thing, though, is that I regained my timing and started tossing the ball a little bit more consistently."

"Overall, it was different conditions that my first round match. The court played a lot slower. We had a lot longer rallies. I didn't get a huge advantage off the serve or the return today - I didn't serve my best - and maybe I made a few too many unforced errors. But overall, once we got into the rallies, once I realized I needed to be a little more patient, then things started working a little better for me."

"I like to make things very simple, no matter where they're from, or where my coach is from. Obviously he's known her game for quite some time. Me, not so much. I think that was a good thing."

"But like I said it's best not to overthink things. Different opponent, new court, different conditions. I think just trying to figure that out from the beginning was more important than anything else."

In Wimbledon 3rd Round, Maria will play against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania. On head to head, Maria leads Begu: 1-0. Their only match was 3 years ago, in 2012 at Mutua Madrid Open, where Maria won in straight sets: 6-0, 6-3.

GO MARIA !!!

First grass victory of the year

Maria needed one hour and 22 minutes for her first victory on grass in 2015. She defeated Johanna Konta of United Kingdom in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2.

After the 1st Round match, Maria said: "I was quite pleased with the way things went today."

"It was my first competitive match in about four weeks, so I just wanted to start off really strong, not knowing much about my opponent, just the results she had last week. So coming in without any proper grass court matches, I just wanted to take care of business, and I thought I did a good job of that."

"She was a solid opponent - I really had to work for my points. I thought she served really well. Probably one of the reasons she did well last week, she serves quite low on grass. It's a big advantage. She served second serves very fast, I believe mid-90s. That's a pretty great second serve.

"I felt quite well on the return. That helped me get in the point and get the first shot playing."

In Wimbledon`s 2nd Round, Maria will play against Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands. Maria never played Hogenkamp before.

GO MARIA!!!

Maria into 3rd Round

Tough test for Maria in 2nd Round at US Open where she defeated Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania in 3 sets: 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

After the match, Maria said: "She played really well. I started off really well, but didn't take the opportunity to go up 3-0. Then she started getting a little bit of a rhythm. The conditions were tough. You start in the sun; you finish under the lights. It was a very long match, but in the end I felt like I was in superior shape and could have played a few more sets. Mentally, that helped me a lot."

""It's really good to get through a match like this, where you put yourself in a really tough position, but then you're able to find a way to get back in it and finish really strong."

A In 3rd Round, Maria will play agianst Sabine Lisicki of Germany. On head to head, Maria leads Lisicki: 5-1. Their last match was last year in Madrid, when Maria won in straight sets: 6-2, 7-5.




GO MARIA !!!

Press conference in London

GO MARIA !!!

Goodbye Wimbledon

Maria was prematurely eliminated from Wimbledon by Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal. Maria lost the second round match in straight sets: 3-6, 4-6.

The next tournament in Maria`s schedule is Bank of the West Classic in Stanford. The tournament begins on July 22nd.



GO MARIA !!!

Maria vs Mladenovic (PHOTO)

GO MARIA !!!

Maria in Wimbledon 2nd Round

Maria won the first round match at Wimbledon against Kristina Mladenovic of France in straight sets: 7-6, 6-3 after one hour and 42 minutes of play.

The first set was decided on tie-break. Fortunately, Maria won the tie-break at 5 and the first set.

In second set, at 2-1 Maria made the break for a 3-1 lead.

In the end, Maria won the second set (6-3) and the match.

In 2nd Round, Maria will play either Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal or Melanie Oudin of  United States.


UPDATE: Maria Sharapova vs Michelle Larcher De Brito



GO MARIA !!!

Wimbledon draw

The draw for Wimbledon 2013 has been released and Maria will play in first round against Kristina Mladenovic of France.

Maria never played Mladenovic before.



GO MARIA !!!

Maria`s dress for Wimbledon 2013

GO MARIA !!!

Maria lost the RG Final

Maria lost the final against Serena Williams in straight sets: 4-6, 4-6.

The next tournament in Maria`s schedule is the third Grand Slam of the year: Wimbledon. The tournament starts on June 24.



GO MARIA !!!

Maria vs Azarenka (PHOTO)

GO MARIA !!!

Unstoppable !

Maria won the Roland Garros semifinal against Victoria Azarenka in 3 sets: 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 after 2 hours and 10 minutes of play.

Sge started slow the semifinal, Maria lost her serve in debut, but she made the rebreak immediately and the score was tied by Maria at 1.
At 2-1, Maria made the break and leaded 4-1 after she won her serve. At 4-1, Maria made another break and won the first set after she conserved her game: 6-1 after 28 minutes.

In second set, at 2-3, Maria lost her serve and she was leaded by Azarenka: 2-4. In the end, Maria lost the second set: 2-6. After the second set, the play was suspended because of the rain.

In third set, at 1-1, Maria made the break but she lost her serve and the score was tied at 2 by Azarenka.At 2-2, it was another break for Maria, but this time she conserved her game for a 4-2 lead.
At 4-2, Maria made once again the break and she served to win the match. When Maria served to win the semifinal, she lost her serve.

In the end, Maria won the third set:6-4 and the match.

In Saturday`s final, Maria will play either Serena Williams of United States or Sara Errani of Italy.


UPDATE: Maria Sharapova vs Serena Williams



GO MARIA !!!

Maria into Roland Garros semifinals

Maria won the quarterfinal against Jelena Jankovic in 3 sets: 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 after one hour and 58 minutes.

She started slow, Maria was leaded 0-2 by Janokovic afte she lost her serve in the beginning of the quarterfinal.
At 0-3, in first set Maria lost again her serve and she was leaded 0-4. In the end, Maria lost the first set without winning a game: 0-6 after 29 minutes.

Maria started well the second set, she made the break in debut and leaded 2-0 after she won her serve.
At 3-1, Maria made another break and in the end she won the second part of the quarterfinal: 6-4 after 46 minutes with 14 winners and 10 unforced errors.

The first break of the third set was made by Maria at 3-3 and she conserved her serve for a 5-3 lead.
In the end, Maria won the third set (6-3) after 43 minutes and the match.

In French Open semifinals, Maria will play against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. On head to head, Maria is leaded by Azarenka: 7-5. Their last match was last year in Istanbul at WTA Championships, where Maria won in straight sets: 6-4, 6-2.



GO MARIA !!!

Maria vs Stephens (PHOTO)

GO MARIA !!!

Paris quarters

Maria won the 4th round match against Sloane Stephens of United States in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3 after one hour and 29 minutes.

The first break of the match was made in first set by Maria when the score was 3-3 and quickly leaded 5-3 after she won her serve.
In the end, Maria won the first set: 6-4 after 37 minutes with 8 unforced errors and 12 winners.

Maria started well the second set, she made the break in debut, but she lost her serve and the score was tied at 1 by Stephens.
At. 2-2, Maria made another break and this time she conserved her game for a 4-2 lead.

In the end, Maria won the second set: 6-3 after 57 minutes and the match.

In quarterfinals, Maria will play either Jelena Jankovic of Serbia or Jamie Hampton of United States.



GO MARIA !!!