Wimbledon 2012: Maria Sharapova aims for second grasscourt Slam title

A runner-up finish to Petra Kvitova in last year’s Wimbledon Championships Ladies’ Singles final was a big achievement but also a big letdown for Maria Sharapova. However, she saw this as a sign that she’s going to the right direction when it came to her career. After all, it is never easy to make a comeback after having gone a career-threatening shoulder injury.

At the recently concluded Roland Garros 2012 tournament, Sharapova sparkled and dominated to win the only Slam event she hasn’t won and she joins the likes of Serena Williams, Steffi Graff and other tennis greats to have achieved a Career Grand Slam.

At the All England Club this year, Sharapova has a chance to emulate an achievement last done by Serena Williams in 2002 – to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon back to back in a single season. But with the latter’s participation at this grasscourt event – this may be a tough act to follow. The two are projected to meet in the final since they are in separate draws.

“I think it’s the toughest back to back Grand Slam-wise, no doubt,” Sharapova said in an interview with Wimbledon.com.

“Especially if you’re coming off a French Open win or a final it’s the toughest turnaround. As much as you want to celebrate and enjoy, you come here and it’s like a whole new ballgame,” she added.

Sharapova’s first Grand Slam title victory came at Wimbledon in 2004 where she stunned then defending champion Serena Williams at the age of 17. Eight years later, she won at least one of the other Grand Slam singles events (US Open 2006, Australian Open 2008, French Open 2012).

Sharapova, just like last year, has opted not to participate in warm-up grasscourt tournaments, revealing that she’s not “physically ready” to compete after the claycourt season. However, she’s been seen practicing for more than a week at the All England Club which is a good indication that she’s more than ready to compete.

“I think everybody knows the meaning of this tournament for me, ever since I was a young girl, how special it was,” she said.

“To be part of its history for the rest of my career and life means a lot. I certainly hope I can achieve the success I had many years ago here,” she concluded.