Home » Women's Singles Players

Maria Sharapova - Australian Open Women's Tennis Players

Glamour girl, Maria Sharapova, will have to pick up her game if she has any intention of impressing as a worthy Australian Open 2008 women's tennis player. The 20-year Russian media darling, crashed out of the 2007 US Open in the third round. Polish teenager, Agnieszka Radwanska, caused a major upset by soundly beating the defending champion 6-4, 1-6, 6-2

Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a return shot during her semifinal women's singles match against Kim Clijsters of Belgium at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 25 January 2007 Currently ranked No.4 in the world, Sharapova has won 2 Grand Slam titles since she turned professional in 2001. In 2004, she defeated Serena Williams to claim the Wimbledon women's singles title and 2 years later she defeated Belgian, Justine Henin , to win the US Open.

She came incredibly close to winning her first Australian Open women's tennis players title in 2005, when she held Serena Williams to three match points. She was unable to convert them and was finally defeated by Serena 2-6, 7-5, 8-6.

Although she was unable to defend her Wimbledon title in 2005, she reached the no.1 ranking for the first time.

Maria Sharapova made it to the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2006, but was again denied the coveted title by the aggressive Justine Henin.

At the Australian Open 2007, Sharapova reached the finals by defeating women's tennis players Vera Zvonareva, Anna Chakvetadze and Kim Clijsters. Had she won, she would have been the first Russian woman to claim the elusive title. She was soundly beaten 6-1, 6-2 by American, Serena Williams, who had a world ranking of no. 81 at the time.

Maria Sharapova has had a career of ups and downs. She is currently not showing her best form and there will have to be a vast improvement if she is to challenge the likes of champions Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and the Williams' sisters for the Australian Open 2008 women's singles title.

Maria Sharapova's successes:

  • In 2004 she became the third-youngest Wimbledon women's champion
  • With her US Open 2006 victory, she joined the list of players who had beaten the top 2 ranked players in the world to win a Grand Slam
  • At the Australian Open 2007 she had to play in temperatures in excess of 50 degrees centigrade (122 degrees Fahrenheit) on court.
  • Forbes magazine listed her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world in 2005. In total she earns about 13.4 million UK pounds per year, 90% of which comes from endorsements

To see how the bookmakers rate Maria Sharapova, take a look at William Hill for all the latest tennis betting odds for the Australian Open women's singles players.