Previewing Sharapova In Second Round
By Elena Scuro Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
It was unclear how Maria Sharapova would fare at the first Grand Slam of the year. She ended her 2011 season by withdrawing from the WTA Championships due to an ankle injury and she didn’t play the Australian Open warm-up tournament in Brisbane on account of that same injury. Commentators have said she’s done winning Slams and the media still claim she hasn’t been the same Sharapova since before her shoulder troubles, despite reaching the semifinals of Roland Garros and the Wimbledon final last year.
But Sharapova started 2012 with a statement 6-0, 6-1 win over Argentina’s Gisela Dulko in the first round. After her win, Sharapova said she felt okay despite the lack of preparation.
“I’d rather come in feeling good physically than feeling like I played a lot of matches,” she said. “I’ve been on the tour for many years, played enough tournaments, I just want to be as ready as I can for the big ones.”
Up next, the 4th seeded Sharapova plays American qualifier Jamie Hampton, who defeated Mandy Minella in the first round. When asked, after defeating Dulko, if she knows much about her next opponent, Sharapova said “No, I don’t, not too much. I think my coach will do a little scouting.”
Having spent most of her time on the ITF circuit, the 144th-ranked Hampton has much less experience on the big stage compared to the 2008 Australian Open champion. The two have never met so, while one could hope for a Cinderella story, look for three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova to get through to the third round with ease.