Maria Sharapova was the picture of youthful fire tempered into a steady burn as she hoisted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup last January in Melbourne. Her philosophical champion’s speech revealed that the former teenage phenomenon has transformed into a seasoned champion.
Her victory was unexpected, to say the least. Probably only her die hard fans thought she could win it all. The rest of the tennis world, however, are ought to be forgiven for doubting Sharapova’s chances entering into the tournament. Bracketology, as Steve Tignor would put it, is a tricky business. Those who attempt to analyze the draws rely on the logic of past performances and predicting Sharapova to win the first Major of the year was far from being logical, not when she was sidelined by injury for most of the season previous.
Eventually, all the arguments against her became moot as the rounds progressed. The fact that she has not been passed the fourth round in the last two Slams didn’t matter. That her toughest rival, Justine Henin is waiting in her quarter became immaterial. Regardless on who was on the other side of the net, it was the Russian who triumphed in two lopsided sets. At the last stretch of the tournament, many has changed their mind and conceded to the inevitable. While some fancied Ana Ivanovic to topple the Russian in the final, winning the championship was eventually proven to be Sharapova’s fate.
In the end, however, bracketologists do not begrudge Sharapova for proving most of us wrong. Her inspiring run towards the title provided one of the storylines for which 2008 Australian Open would forever be etched in tennis history.
The image of a mature, vindicated Maria Sharapova, reveling on her victory in Melbourne Park screamed promise of a dominant season. Injury, however, once again derailed Maria’s ascent to greatness later on in the season. A torn rotator cuff caused poor showing in the next two Slams and forced her to withdraw from the Olympics and US Open. She has not played since defaulting in her third round match in Montreal and has completely ruled out any more play for the season.
Uncertainties about her future abound as the season ends and the new one begins. But for a fortnight in January, she was untouchable. For this and more, Maria Sharapova is the first of GSM’s 2008 Headliners.
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