It has been eight years since Maria Sharapova burst onto the international tennis radar with victory at Wimbledon, and the Russian star is eyeing a second win when the third Grand Slam gets underway this week.
The 25-year-old made her professional breakthrough at Wimbledon as she beat the defending champion and top seed Serena Williams in the 2004 final for her first Grand Slam singles triumph at the tender age of 17.
Sharapova has since struggled due to injuries for large periods and her form has faltered, but she is now back to her best and victory at the French Open in 2012 made her only the sixth women in tennis’ Open era to win a career Grand Slam.
It also ensured she rose to world number one and will enter the 2012 Wimbledon as the top seed, proving that the Russian is now on form on the tennis courts and a real danger to the defending champion Petra Kvitova – who beat her in the final 12 months ago.
There has been constant criticism that Sharapova’s off-court promotions and modelling has been to the detriment to her game and quest for trophies, but she has hit back at these claims and is focused instead on winning a second Wimbledon title.
“I don’t regret any path I’ve taken since I won in 2004,” she insisted. To be 17 and win the Wimbledon title and to go on and win all the other Grand Slams, winning in France a few weeks ago. Hopefully I’ll win another one here.”
Sharapova is the top seed for the All England Club for the first time in her career and she is followed by the Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in second and Agnieszka Radwanska third.
The defending champion Kvitova is fourth, while US Open champion Sam Stosur is seeded fifth, with four-time champion Williams sixth and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki seventh.
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