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`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 !!!

4th Round Interview

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Game over in London

End of road for Maria at Wimbledon after she lost the 4th Round match against Angelique Kerber of Germany in 3 sets: 6-7, 6-4, 4-6.

In Maria`s schedule the next tournament is the Rogers Cup in Montreal. The tournament starts on August 4th.

GO MARIA !!!

3rd Round Interview

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3rd Round victory !

On Centre Court, Maria won the 3rd Round match against Alison Riske of United States in straight sets: 6-3, 6-0 with 25 winners and 12 unforced errors.

After the match, Maria said: "I didn't want to get broken in the first game, but besides that break point I lost on my serve I didn't face another one throughout the match, so I was quite pleased about that."

"Overall she can be a dangerous player on grass. She has proved that before. Even though we played a long time ago, it was a three set match, and going into this one I knew that I had to be there.

"I thought I did a good job of maintaining my focus until the end."

In 4th Round, Maria will play against Angelique Kerber of Germany. On head to head, Maria leads kerber 4-1. Their last match was last year in Stuttagrt, where Maria won in 3 sets: 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

GO MARIA !!!

2nd Round Interview

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Maria into Wimbledon 3rd Round

Maria advanced into 3rd Round at Wimbledon after her victory against Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland in straight sets: 6-2, 6-1 after only an hour of play.

After the match, Maria said: "The first couple of matches are really crucial in terms of working on so many things as a grass court player and trying to make that transition from clay as quickly as possible. The grass is quite different from the practice courts. Once you get out there, you try to focus a little bit more on executing better and not letting your focus go. That has been important in the last couple of matches."

In 3rd Round, Maria will play against Alison Riske of United States. On head to head, Maria leads Riske: 1-0. Their only match was in 2010 in Birmingham on grass, where Maria won in 3 sets: 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.

About her 3rd Round opponent, Maria said: "I feel like her game is suited extremely well for grass," Sharapova said. "She stays down really low, hits really flat from both sides and has had steady results on the surface. It's going to be a challenge. I look forward to playing her."

GO MARIA !!!

1st Round Interview

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Maria@Wimbledon

Less than an hour (58 minutes) needed Maria to win her 1st Round match at Wimbledon. She defeated Samantha Murray of great Britain in straight sets: 6-1, 6-0.

After the match, Maria said: "There's always a bit more tension coming into the first round of a Grand Slam. It was such a quick turnaround. Just a couple weeks ago you're on the clay, coming onto the grass now. It's a new surface and it's a different feeling."

"It was obviously a bit slower start than I wanted, but I think as the match progressed, I got more comfortable, found my toss a little bit better. I think my serve percentage went up, which was quite important considering she did want to play an aggressive game off of the second serves."

In Wimbledon 2nd Round, Maria will play against Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland. On head to head, Maria leads Bacsinszky: 1-0. Their only match was in 2006 in Zurich when Maria won in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3.

GO MARIA !!!

WTA Pre-Wimbledon Party

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Maria`s outfit for Wimbledon 2014

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Press conference in London

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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)

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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 !!!