Maria Sharapova: Leaving an indelible mark on clay

Maria Sharapova after her second round win over Jill Craybas at the French Open 2007.

Six years on, one of the world’s most recognized faces, Sharapova successfully defended her Stuttgart title, after having become just the 10th woman to complete a Career Slam with a win in Paris.

With a 16-match winning streak on the terre battue, Sharapova now heads the list in winning percentage on clay among active players with an eye-popping .811 (86-20) record.

Since her career-threatening shoulder surgery, a process which took nearly ten months off her career, Sharapova has left an indelible mark on her least favored surface.

Sharapova looked perplexed many a time and didn’t know which direction to take to crush the return.

Now let us consider her final against 2011 French Open winner Li Na at Stuttgart this year: Maria Sharapova of Russia poses with her trophy after winning her final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix at Porsche-Arena on April 28, 2013 in Stuttgart, Germany against Na Li of China (C).

If she has been laboring through three-setters in her first three rounds at Stuttgart, it is because she wanted to take her own sweet time to get used to the feel of clay and polish any kink in her armory.

2013 is only the third time the willowy blonde has opted to play three tournaments in the lead-up to the French Open, a move which attests her insatiable hunger to climb greater heights even on the dirt.

Sharapova still isn’t flawless she still sometimes has difficulty in sliding, her serves are not that reliable and she definitely is not of those spin exponents who exhibit amazing flamboyance on clay.