Maria Sharapova

 

Maria  sharapova  born April 19, 1987) is a former World No. 1 Russian professional tennis player. In a career marred by critical injury, Sharapova has gained 22 WTA singles titles, three WTA doubles titles and three Grand Slam singles titles, consisting of the 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open. She was additionally runner-up on the 2007 Australian Open. She has additionally won the 12 months-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in 2004. Since her shoulder damage in 2008, she has not recovered her championship form.

The Girls's Tennis Affiliation has ranked her World No. 1 in singles on 4 separate occasions. She regained this ranking for the fourth time on Could 19, 2008. She became the World No.1 for the first time on Aug 22, 2005. She is at the moment (as of January 2011) ranked World No. 13.

Sharapova made her professional breakthrough in 2004 when, at age 17, she upset two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon remaining for her first Grand Slam singles title. She entered the top ten of the WTA Rankings with this win. Regardless of not successful a significant in 2005, Sharapova briefly held the primary rating, and reached three Grand Slam semifinals, shedding to the eventual champion each time. She in the end won her second major on the 2006 US Open defeating then-World No. 1 Amélie Mauresmo within the semifinals and World No. 2 Justine Henin within the final. Sharapova's 2007 season was plagued with a continual shoulder damage, and saw her ranking fall out of the highest 5 for the primary time in two years. She ultimately gained her third Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open, defeating Henin in the quarterfinals and Ana Ivanovic in the final. After reclaiming the primary ranking in May 2008, Sharapova's shoulder problems re-surfaced, in the end requiring surgery in October and forcing her out of the game for practically ten months. Sharapova returned in Might 2009 and was ranked No. 126 on this planet attributable to her in depth lay-off. Since her comeback, Sharapova has received three singles titles (bringing her career whole to 22) and improved her ranking.