In her first tournament for 15 months, Maria Sharapova is just two wins away from claiming the Stuttgart Open title after defeating Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 6-4, in the quarter-finals.
Facing the 21-year-old for the first time in her career, Sharapova swiftly settled into her rhythm with a clinical opening set display. The intensity of the five-time grand slam champion proved too much for Kontaveit as Sharapova dropped just six points on serve and broke her rival two consecutive times.
Grabbing an early break at the start of the second set, the Russian wildcard seemed destined for a straightforward win before a short-lived comeback from her opponent. Kontaveit, who recently reached her maiden WTA final in Biel, battled back to reignite her match hopes. Still the efforts of the Estonian player was not enough to tame Sharapova, who held her nerve to close the match out in straight sets.
“I thought I had a really good rhythm. When you don’t know your opponent really well, I think the first six games was just trying to figure out each other’s game and get used to it.” Said Sharapova during her on-court interview.
“When I got my opportunity I felt I really rolled with it. I gained confidence from that too.” She added.
Frioday’s match saw Sharapova produced 24 winners and more critically convert five out of her six break point opportunities. As a result of her latest win, the 30-year-old has accumulated 185 ranking points. This has elevated Sharapova to roughly 260th in the WTA rankings. It is an impressive display for a player who missed 15 months due to a doping suspension. Speaking about another player who staged triumphant comeback earlier this year, Roger Federer, Sharapova hopes that she can emulate him.
“I can’t compare myself or put myself in the same chair as Roger Federer. What he has done is amazing and obviously you want to follow in those footsteps because he always set the highest examples.” She explained. “I would love to have the type of comeback he has had.”
Federer return in the tour in January after a six-month injury absence. In his first ATP tournament, the Swiss defeated four top-10 players to win a record 18th grand slam title at the Australian Open.
Sharapova, who is a three-time champion at the tournament, will next player Carla Suarez Navarro or Kristina Mladenovic. If she wins her semifinal match, for former world No.1 will generate enough ranking points to play in at least the qualifying rounds at the next two grand slam tournaments.
