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 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 seeking her 2nd title of the year

Maria is in Rome final after she defeated Daria Gavrilova of Russia in straight sets: 7-5, 6-3 after one hour and 48 minutes.

In the final, Maria will play against Carla Suarez-Navarro of Spain. About her last opponent at Internazionai BNL d`Italia, Maria said: "She loves this surface. She grew up on clay. I've beaten her the last couple of times, but I've had losses against her too. I know what a difficult player she can be, and she seems like she's playing with a lot of confidence right now, especially after her win in the semifinals today."

"She has one of the best one-handed backhands on the tour. It's going to be a tough final."

On head to head, Maria leads Suarez-Navarro: 3-1. Their last match was this year in Brisbane, when Maria won in straight sets: 6-1, 6-3.

GO MARIA !!!

Maria in Rome semifinal looking for revenge

Important victory for Maria in Rome quarterfinal. She defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in straight sets: 6-3, 6-2 after one hour and 32 minutes.

In semifinals, Maria will play against Daria Gavrilova of Russia. About her opponent, Maria said: "I know she's come through some tough matches.She's spent a lot of time on the court this week, and she'll spend as much time on the court tomorrow as she can to win."

"There are a lot of things I could have done better in our match in Miami, and I'll be sure to try to do all of those things tomorrow, because otherwise she's a good enough player to take advantage."

On head to head, Maria is leaded by Gavrilova: 1-0. Their only match was this year in Miami 2nd Round, when Gavrilova won in straight sets: 7-6, 6-3.

GO MARIA !!!

Quarterfinal showdown in Rome

Quarterfinal spot booked by Maria after she defeated Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia in straight sets: 6-3, 6-3.

About the match, Maria said: "Today I just had to be very patient and solid.I had a tricky opponent and not easy conditions - the wind was pretty swirly out on the court, so I just had to stay steady."

"Despite a couple of breaks back and forth in the second set, I was really happy to finish so strongly."

In quarterfinals, Maria will play against Victoria Azarenka of Belaurs. On head to head, the score between Maria and Azarenka is tied at 7. Their last match was this year in Indian Wells, where Maria won in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3.

GO MARIA !!!

Maria into 3rd Round in Rome

The 2nd Round match between Maria and Jarmila Gajdosova stopped at: 6-2, 3-1 for Maria after Gajdosova accused an injury at her shoulder.

After the match, Maria said: "Madrid was really the start of my clay court season - my preparations started a little bit later this year than in previous ones. I have to take my time and get into a groove, it's been a while since I've played that many matches within a span of six days.

"It was good to feel the physicality of it again - I think the last time was during the Australian Open. I came up short against Svetlana,  but it was good to have those matches because this will be the last preparation before the French Open."

"I think mentally and physically I improved my approach. I can withstand longer rallies - the recovery is much easier for me now - but obviously it took years. I appreciate all the hard work that's gone in and now I can enjoy the battles a bit more, knowing I don't have to save myself."

In 3rd Round, Maria will play either Bojana Jovanovski or Madison Keys. 

GO MARIA !!!