Wimbledon to French Open: Sharapova’s Greatest Grand Slam Moments

As Maria Sharapova gets ready to return to the majors, here’s a look at her greatest moments in Grand Slams.

File photo of Maria Sharapova.

(Photo: Reuters)

Maria Sharapova was handed a wildcard entry into the main draw of the US Open on 15 August.

She will be playing her first Grand Slam after returning from a 15-month doping ban. The 30-year-old, who played four tournaments since her comeback in April, played her last Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2016.

As she gets ready to return to the majors, here’s a look at Sharapova’s greatest moments at the Grand Slams.

Only in her second Wimbledon in 2004, Sharapova announced to the world that she is one of the best.

Maria Sharapova in action during the 2004 Wimbledon.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

The Russian was one set down in the semi-final against the 1999 champion Lindsay Davenport, but she clinched the tiebreaker in the next set and wrapped the match with a 6-1 victory in the third set.

Maria Sharapova drops to her knees as she celebrates her victory against Lindsay Davenport.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

Sharapova defeated Serena Williams in straight sets in the final and became the third youngest Wimbledon champion at the age of 17 years and 75 days.

Maria Sharapova shares a moment with Serena Williams.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

Maria Sharapova embraces her father Yuri after the Wimbledon final in 2004.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

Also Read: It Felt Like I Had Never Left: Maria Sharapova On Comeback Match

Sharapova entered the US Open in 2006 as the number three seed and reached the semi-finals without much trouble.

Maria Sharapova plays a forehand during the 2006 US Open.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

She first knocked the number one seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the semis.

Amelie Mauresmo congratulates Maria Sharapova after her semi-final win at the US Open.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

And then defeated the number two seed Justine Henin in straight sets in the final.

Maria Sharapova poses with the US Open trophy.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

Maria Sharapova is ecstatic after winning her second Grand Slam.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

As Sharapova moved into the Australian Open in 2007, the Russian was certainly thinking of pocketing another Grand Slam as she went in seeded number one.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova shake hands after their Australian Open final match in 2007.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

But things didn’t pan out as planned, as Sharapova clashed with an unseeded Serena Williams in the final.

The American wrapped the match in an hour and three minutes with a 6-1, 6-2 win.

Maria Sharapova reacts during the Australian Open final in 2007.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

Sharapova battled shoulder injuries for the entire year. But, bad things do come to an end.

The Russian won the Australian Open title in 2008 without dropping a set!

Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic pose for photographs after the Australian Open in 2008.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

Sharapova only needed to win the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam and that finally happened in 2012.

Maria Sharapova reacts after winning the French Open in 2012.(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

Sharapova moved into the competition after clinching titles at Stuttgart and Rome.

And in the French Open, she dropped only one set and wrapped the competition with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Sara Errani in the finals.

Maria Sharapova kisses the French Open trophy.(Photo: Reuters)

Sharapova became the 10th woman to win all four Grand Slam titles.

Two years later, the Russian won her second French Open title, taking her Grand Slam tally to five.

Maria Sharapova poses for a photograph after the 2014 French Open final. (Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

Also Read: After 18 Months, Sharapova Granted Wildcard Entry to Grand Slam