Sharapova wants more at Wimbledon

 

Originally published on: 23/06/12 00:00

Maria Sharapova may now be the proud owner of the career Grand Slam – a feat that only nine other women have achieved – but the 25-year-old Russian has no plans to stop there.

“I’m certainly happy with what I achieved, but that doesn’t make me less eager to want to achieve more," said Sharapova ahead of her tilt to add a second Wimbledon crown to the one she picked up, aged 17, in 2004. 

Winning at Roland Garros and then winning on the grass of Wimbledon, with the requirement to adjust to the quirks of grasscourt play in such a short space of time, is arguably the biggest ask in the modern game. It comes as no surprise that the Russian is up for the challenge.

“As far as the success I had at the French Open, my first time getting to the finals and winning it and coming here, I think it's not really what has been achieved before – I think it's going out there and trying to achieve something that you want to do," said Sharapova.

The No. 1 seed admitted that on her first few days on the grass she had to shake off her habits from the clay swing, where she picked up three titles – in Stuttgart, Rome and Paris.

“The first two days you’re like, 'wait, I can’t really slide that much', so you have to take a few more steps,” said Sharapova. “But the first few days are always so much fun. It’s a different balance, a fast game. I feel like coming from clay you learn so much about the point and the development of the rally. You get on a fast grass court and you’re not playing more than five ball rallies. If you are, [you're] probably doing something wrong."

Sharapova hasn't featured in any warm-up events for WImbledon, but winning a string of matches on the grass doesn't guarantee success at the All England Club, she insists.

“I always think if you think everything is great and you're feeling good, then you should be extremely worried," she said. "That's the way I think about it. “

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