Maria Sharapova, who last year reached her first Grand Slam final since 2008, has parlayed 2011’s run of success into a solid start to the new WTA Tour campaign. The three-time Grand Slam champion is back in the top five in the world after a couple of injury-plagued seasons which saw her fall to 14th at the end of 2009 after five consecutive seasons finishing inside the top 10. Sharapova, who turns 25 next month, finished last year ranked fourth overall after reaching the final of Wimbledon. She also made it to the final of this year’s Australian Open where she lost to Azarenka 6-3, 6-0.
“It’s definitely great to be in those stages again, putting yourself in a position where you are a match away from winning a grand slam,” said world No. 2 Sharapova Wednesday at the Indian Wells WTA tournament. “Obviously the next stage is to get those Grand Slams. That’s obviously my goal. Looking back even a year ago, I was sitting in this chair, I can say I am in a much better position. “To get to two Grand Slam finals within that year has been challenging but extremely great.” The 2006 Indian Wells champion Sharapova appeared to be on her way to the final here last year before she ran head first into Caroline Wozniacki, losing 6-1, 6-2 in the semis. The Russian-born Sharapova, who now lives in nearby Los Angeles, said she has strong memories of playing in Indian Wells, especially in 2002 when she was hammered 6-0, 6-2 by Monica Seles. “This was one of my first big professional tournaments,” Sharapova said Wednesday as women’s play got underway.
