Maria into RG 4th Round

Maria continues her journey in Paris after her victory against Sam Stosur of Australia in straight sets: 6-3, 6-4 after one hour and 40 minutes.

After the match, Maria said: "I was just really happy to win this one.I knew it was going to be a tough one going into the match. I just wanted to be as ready as I could, and I was really happy I was able to win it."

"Against Sam I know I have to take care of my service games because she's capable of serving really well. I'm also a tall girl, so the kick she's able to give on the second serve maybe doesn't bother me as much as other players. I quite like that ball. But we've had many tough matches despite my record, and it's not something I look at very lightly when I go up to that match. I know I have to beat a good player."

"She's been playing really well and loves playing here. So I thought it was a great result for me."

"Just getting the job done. The conditions in the first match and today have been quite tough. And in those moments it's always tough to really assess the level, because as much as you want to improve and find some sort of perfection, you never quite know where the direction will be. Especially with the spin of my opponent today, I just had to be steady and consistent, and I did that quite well."

In 4th Round, Maria will play against Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic. About her 4th Round opponent, Maria said: "We haven't played in a while.The last time was a really tough match in Stuttgart last year where she was serving for the match. I know I have a tough one ahead of me, and lefties are always tricky. It will be my firs

t one of the tournament. I will definitely need to be ready against her."

"But I know what I have to do. I just have to get it done."

On head to head, Maria leads Safarova: 4-1. Their last match was last year in Stuttgart, where Maria won in 3 sets: 7-6, 6-7, 7-6.


GO MARIA !!!

No problem in RG 2nd Round

Maria defeated Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia in straight sets: 6-3, 6-1 in 2nd Round at Roland Garros.

In 3rd Round, Maria will play against Samantha Stosur of Australia. About her opponent, Maria said: "She has a very heavy ball, and I think on clay specifically it just really penetrates through the court," Sharapova said of Stosur. "The spin she's able to create from her forehand and her serve, she has one of the best kick serves in the game. She's really able to put that power into it and kick. She also slices a lot. There are a lot of untraditional things she does, but I guess I enjoy the challenge of playing her.

"I have a pretty good record against her. I enjoy our matches. I hope I can continue that."

On head to head, Maria leads Stosur: 14-2. Their last match was last year at Roland Garros, when Maria won in 3 sets: 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.

GO MARIA !!!

Title defense started in Paris

Maria started her title defense campaign at Roland Garros with a straight set victory against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia: 6-2, 6-4 after one hour and 24 minutes of play.

After the match, Maria said: "I'm getting over it, and hopefully it will pass by soon. But obviously it was such a big occasion for me to be back out on center court, and I had a tough opponent ahead of me. And the conditions were pretty difficult as well. So I knew it wasn't just going to depend on the tennis today."

"Overall I'm just happy I got through it and have a day off tomorrow - I should be better by then."

On title defense campaign, Maria said:  "Every time is different. I think you always look back at all the different memories that you've created over the years, and I've obviously had many great ones and many tough ones.

"I always love coming back the first few days when the tournament is just getting going and you only see the staff around," Sharapova continued. "I think that's always quite special, a little bit eerie, and there's no one really there and you've able to re-live your special moment in your mind a little bit."

In 2nd Round, Maria will play against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia. Maria never played Diatchenko before. About her 2nd Round opponent, Maria concluded: "I got to know her during Fed Cup this year," Sharapova said. "That was really the first time we spent together. I didn't get a chance to practice with her, though. I saw her play doubles a little bit - maybe it was good because it was the first time I had really seen her strike the ball. She's a big hitter."

GO MARIA!!!

Practice session in Paris

GO MARIA !!!

Goodbye, Paris !

Maria lost the semifinal against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in 3 sets: 6-4, 3-6, 4-6.

The next tournament in Maria`s schedule is BNP Paribas Open - Indian Wells. The tournament begins on March 5th.




GO MARIA !!!

Maria into Paris semis

No problem for Maria in quarterfials at Open GDF Suez. Maria defeated Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2 after one hour and 9 minutes of play.

In semifinals, Maria will play against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia. On head to head, Maria leads Pavlyuchenkova: 1-0. The only match between them was in 2010 in Cincinnati, where Maria won in 3 sets: 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

About the semifinal, Maria said: "We haven't played against each other in quite a bit of time. She's playing really well this year and had a great win today, so I'm sure she'll be really confident going into tomorrow.

"It's always tough to play another Russian but it's good to know one of us will be in the finals."

GO MARIA !!!

2nd Round Interview (PHOTO)

Photo: zimbio.com




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Maria vs Hantuchova (PHOTO)

GO MARIA !!!

Paris Quarters

Only one game lost Maria in 2nd Round at Open GDF Suez against Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia: 6-0, 6-1 after one hour and 10 minutes.

Maria is now in quarterfinal where she will play against either Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium or Yvonne Meusburger of Austria.



GO MARIA !!!

WTA Live All Access Hour in Paris

You can watch Maria from the minute 5:42. Enjoy ! :)






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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 vs Jankovic (PHOTO)

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 !!!