It has been a long time since former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has won a match on the grass. The Russian hopes to earn her first victory on the surface since 2015 when she faces Viktoria Kuzmova in first-round action at the Mallorca Open.
Sharapova, who played her first match on grass since 2015 when she lost to Vitalia Diatchenko at Wimbledon last summer, is tucked into a tricky quarter of the draw in Mallorca that features top-seeded Angelique Kerber (last year’s Wimbledon champ), former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka as well as last week’s ‘s-Hertogenbosch champion Alison Riske and last week’s Nottingham champion Caroline Garcia.
Sharapova owns a lifetime record of 80-19 on grass which includes seven finals on the surface—two at Wimbledon, four at Birmingham and one at the 2012 Olympic Games.
The Russian has been out of action since late January and she underwent a minor shoulder surgery in February. She could face Kerber in the second round if she can get past Kuzmova in her first match.
See the full Mallorca draw here: