Maria Sharapova finished the 2014 season with a French Open title, the number two ranking, and high expectations for 2015. Unfortunately, the five-time Grand Slam champion was unable to meet those expectations this year, suffering from a leg injury and rough patches of form.
Win/Loss
Sharapova finished the year 39-9, 22 of those wins coming from the hard court, although she missed the summer hard court season due to her leg injury. Considered one of the toughest fighters on tour, the Russian achieved an impressive 9-3 three-set match record.
Best Results
Sharapova kicked off 2015 with a roar, going on a ten match winning streak in Australia, capturing the title in Brisbane defeating Ana Ivanovic in the final. Her impressive form continued into the Australian Open, reaching the final before falling to Serena Williams.
In recent years, the two-time French Open champion has earned the “Queen of Clay” moniker, showing impressive performances on the red dirt. She captured her third crown in Rome, defeating her rival Victoria Azarenka along the way.
Sharapova won her first Grand Slam in 2004 at Wimbledon, but has not been able to produce the same form and performances to get her to the title since. Since 2006, she had only reached the semifinals just once, until an impressive run this year.
A U.S. resident since the age of 7, the Russian born Sharapova has never been very active with Fed Cup, however this year was different. The five-time Grand Slam champion was a key player for Russia, winning all four of her Fed Cup matches this year. She played in a Fed Cup final for the first time in her career against the Czech Republic, garnering Russia’s only two wins.
Worst Results
The world number four suffered from a rough patch in form in March, a month where she traditionally produces highly consistent results. Sharapova crashed out of Indian Wells in the fourth round to Flavia Pennetta, and in the second round of Miami to the 97th-ranked Daria Gavrilova. In both matches, the powerful Russian was unable to hit through the counter punchers, and suffered from an enormous amount of unforced errors.
Coming in as the three-time defending champion, Sharapova lost in her first match in Stuttgart to an inspired Angelique Kerber. The early loss stunted her momentum before the French Open.
Sharapova reached the semifinals or better in Roland Garros four years in a row until this year, where she was defeated in straight sets to Lucie Safarova, who went on to reach the final. The world’s highest earning female athlete suffered from a leg strain after Wimbledon, and missed the US Open for the second time in three years.
Grade: C
To most players in the WTA, Sharapova’s 2015 would have been a career season. However, this season failed to meet her high standards. She was unable to win a Grand Slam, and more importantly, was unable to beat Williams. In 2016, the Russian must focus on staying healthy, and peaking at the majors, especially when competing with Williams.