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!!!

Maria`s performances by countries

Here are the wins:

Australia - Australian Open (2008)
Austria - Linz (2006)
Canada - Quebec City (2003)
China - Beijing (2014)
France: Roland Garros (2012, 2014), Strasbourg (2010)
Germany - Stuttgart (2012, 2013, 2014)
Great Britain - Wimbledon (2004), Birmingham (2004, 2005)
Qatar - Doha (2005, 2008)
Italy - Rome (2011, 2012)
Japan - Japan Open (2003, 2004), Pan Pacific Open (2005, 2009)
Spain - Madrid (2014)
South Korea - Seoul (2014)
Switzerland - Zurich (2006)
United States - WTA Championships (2004), US Open (2006), Indian Wells (2006, 2013), San Diego (2006, 2007), Memphis (2010), Cincinnati (2011).


Hope for a lot more !



GO MARIA !!!

Photoshoot with RG Trophy

Photo: zimbio.com



GO MARIA !!!

Press conference after the RG Final

GO MARIA !!!

Roland Garros Queen

Maria won the final in 3 sets: 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 against Simona Halep of Romania. Congratulations, Maria and congratulations also for Simona. Awesome final !

After the final, Maria said: "This was the toughest Grand Slam final I've ever played. All the respect to Simona. I thought she just played an unbelievable match today."
"I can't believe it. I never thought seven or eight years ago that I'd win more Roland Garroses when I was 27 years old than any other Grand Slam. It's a dream come true. This tournament means so much to me. And to think I've won it two times now - I'm so emotional, I can't even talk right now!"

"It's such an emotional victory for me in my career. You know, I have been in many Grand Slam finals, and every one feels very different. I feel as I get older I appreciate those situations so much more. And when it's over, after it being such an emotional match, everything just kind of lets go."

In Maria`s schedule the next tournament is the 3rd Grand Slam of the year, Wimbledon. The tournament begins on June 23.



GO MARIA !!!

Superstitious?

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One more !

Maria managed to win another match after she lost the first set. This time was against Eugenie Bouchard in Roland Garros semifinal: 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

After the semifinal, Maria said: "She played an unbelievable match today. Her level was extremely high and I was fortunate to win because she played tremendous tennis."

"Obviously, I would prefer to win in two sets. It was tough losing that first set, but that's not when the match ends and that's why you put in the hard work - to get through those moments."

In Roland Garros final, Maria will play against Simona Halep of Romania. On head to head, Maria leads Halep: 3-0. Their last match was this year in Madrid final, where Maria won in 3 sets: 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

GO MARIA !!!

Another great comeback

Maria did it again. She managed to comenack against Garbine Muguruza of Spain like she did against Samantha Stosur. Maria won the quarterfinal match in 3 sets: 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 after 2 hours and 6 minuntes of play.

After the match, Maria said: "In a lot of the games in the first set she was up 30-0, 40-0, and then I'd win a point or two. Then she's the one with the confidence. In the second set, when I was making her hit a second ball after her serve or when I was being a bit more aggressive on the second serves, taking a bit more chances, all of a sudden she's not hitting so freely."

"I knew that the match wasn't over. I still had a fair bit of time to change things around. Little by little I started playing a bit better, started getting in the court a little bit more, playing a little bit more aggressive, serving better than I did in the first set, returning as well, giving myself more looks at break points."

In semifinals, Maria will play against Eugenie Bouchard of Canada. On head to head, Maria leads Bouchard: 2-0. Their last match was in 2013 at the same tournament when Maria won in straight sets: 6-2, 6-4.

GO MARIA !!!

Maria all in

Maria continues her way to win the Roland Garros crown after she defeated Samantha Stosur of Australia in 3 sets: 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.

After the match Maria said: "I thought Sam played a really good first set. With that said, I had five break points and I didn't convert one of them. Against a player who's a very good server and who uses her serve as a weapon to set up points out there, if you don't take advantage of those particular moments, she gains a lot of confidence from that and swings and keeps serving well too."

"And it was unfortunate that I gave that break back in the second set, because I thought I had a good start, but overall I'm happy with the way I finished. I think that's the most important thing."

In quaterfinals, Maria will play against Garbine Muguruza of Spain. On head to head, Maria leads Muguruza: 1-0. They played in Rome, last year and Maria won in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2.

GO MARIA !!!

Questions from fans

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Double bagel

Strong match made by Maria in 3rd Round at Roland Garros. She defeated Paula Omaechea of Argetina: 6-0. 6-0. The score says it all.

After the match, Maria said:  “Except the first game, which was a little bit tough… I started a little bit nervous, but other than that I was happy with how I played”

In 4th Round, Maria will play against Samantha Stosur of Australia. On head to head, Maria leads Stosur: 13-2. Their last match was this year in Madrid, where Maria won in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3.



GO MARIA !!!

Maria vs Pironkova (VIDEO)

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Maria passed the test

7-5, 6-2 was the score in 2nd Round match for Maria at Roland Garros against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria after one hour and 32 minutes of play. 

After the match, Maria said: "I started off quite cold, wasn't moving my feet enough and just didn't have a good rhythm. Once I got the break back, I started feeling much better about my game, and I was able to hold that until the end of the match."

"You have to follow your path and concentrate on your work and who's ahead of you and not get worried about what's going on. Obviously when you go on court you're aware of a lot of the upsets, not just among the women, but with the men as well. So it's great to get a win in that type of atmosphere."

In 3rd Round, Maria will play either Monica Niculescu of Romania or Paula Ormaechea of Argentina.

GO MARIA !!!

Maria vs Pervak (PHOTO)

Photo: zimbio.com



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Game on !

Roland Garros started and Maria needed just one hour to defeat Ksenia Pervak of Russia in straight sets: 6-2, 6-1.

After the match, Maria said: "Going into a first round match at a Grand Slam, you want to be solid and do the things you need to do. It's never easy, no matter how good you're feeling or how bad you're feeling. It's just a different story once you get on the court. And I thought I did what I had to do very well. There are things I can improve on and do better for the next match, but it's definitely nice to get through."

In 2nd Round, Maria will play against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. On head to head, Maria leads Pironkova: 4-0. Their last match was in 2012 at Wimbledon, where Maria won in 3 sets: 7-6, 6-7, 6-0.



GO MARIA !!!

Practice session in Paris

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Maria`s outfit for Roland Garros 2014

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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 !!!