Sharapova Pressed to Defend at Wimbledon

Posted on June 20, 2005

World No. 2 Maria Sharapova feels confident on the grass.

Which is a good thing considering that compared to last year's Wimbledon lay-up, with many of the top players suffering niggling injuries (Williams sisters) or out of the game completely (Justine Henin-Hardenne, Kim Clijsters), Sharapova is not the favorite to repeat.

"Every time I step onto grass I feel confident because I feel like it really suits my game," Sharapova said. "You never know what can happen on a certain day. But I feel like I have a bigger advantage against a lot of my opponents and I feel really good, confident."

"A lot of my opponents" presumably does not include Henin-Hardenne, who has dominated the Russian "global icon" in their last few meetings, or Clijsters who has won all three of their career meetings, including earlier this year in Miami.

Throw in Serena Williams, who is looking to collect her second slam title of the year after Australia and avenge last year's Wimbledon final where she practically handed the Russian the title (according to Serena).

"I'm definitely going to triple my efforts, do everything I can to play better next time," said Serena after the loss, only her second in eight slam finals at the time.

Oh, and don't forget world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, who beat Sharapova 0-and-0 in their last meeting.

The top-heavy women's draw could easily result in an all-Belgian final. Were Sharapova to advance to the final again it would have to be through either Henin-Hardenne, Venus or Serena (who meet each other in the 4th rd.) in the semifinals of the bottom half.

Big-girl match-ups in the top half would be Davenport vs. Clijsters in the fourth round, while Amelie Mauresmo has the best opportunity to meet the winner in the semis, possibly facing an injured-addled Elena Dementieva in the quarters.

On court Monday for the ladies are (1) Davenport vs. Jidkova, (3) Mauresmo vs. Melinda "The Fifth Element" Czink, (9) Myskina vs. Bohmova, O'Brien vs. (15) Clijsters, Smashnova-Pistolesi vs. (13) Likhovtseva, Benesova vs. (6) Dementieva, Dominikovic vs. Nakamura, Borwell vs. Perry, Mamic vs. (30) Safina, (23) Sugiyama vs. Vinci, (22) Farina Elia vs. Martina "Nurse, I Need a" Sucha, Perebiynis vs. Arvidsson, Kirilenko vs. Callens, Vento-Kabchi vs. Sequera in an all-Venezuelan, (10) Schnyder vs. Antonella Serra "Nevada" Zanetti, Spears vs. Anne "Kosmo" Kremer, Selima "S'near" Sfar vs. Loit, Chakvetadze vs. (17) Jankovic, (28) Amy "Joltin' Joe" Frazier vs. Washington in an all-American, Strycova vs. Osterloh, Irvin vs. Obata, Sanchez Lorenzo vs. Domachowska, Tanasugarn vs. (25) Karolina "The Spreminator" Sprem, (27) Vaidisova vs. Kostanic, Shaughnessy vs. Schruff, Marrero vs. Jamea "Action" Jackson, Morigami vs. Mirza, Diaz-Oliva vs. Keothavong, Llewellyn vs. (5) Kuznetsova, Stosur vs. Pastikova, Baltacha vs. Klaschka, and Maleeva vs. (24) Asagoe.