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MARIA Comeback
Maria Sharapova has been training in Mallorca on grass for a few days. The Russian player could make her comeback to the competition in the Mallorca Open that takes place from 17 to 23 June. Sharapova played her last official match in January's St. Petersburg, then she underwent a shoulder surgery in March and missed the entire grass-court season. On Wednesday the Tournament Director Toni Nadal and organizer Edwin Weindorfer held a press conference call. Toni said he hopes to count on Sharapova to make her join a star-stunned field that already features Angelique Kerber. "Maria is, combined with Serena Williams, a world class figure of the women's tennis over the last 15 years and having here is a great boost for our tournament", said Toni. The two-time Major winner Victoria Azarenka, Andrea Petkovic and Paula Bodosa will play as well. Compared to the previous year, there should be a 20% tickets sale increase. During the tournament, Rafael Nadal will train on grass courts prior to Wimbledon. Meanwhile Toni commented on Rafael's French Open chances: "I spoke with him, he trained well, he got his level back and he defeated a very good Novak Djokovic in the final. It was a confidence boost and now my nephew is the ultimate favorite to win the French Open." Sharapova played just a few events in the last year, as she dealt with several injuries. She ended her 2018 season in the US Open, but the long break until January did not help her so much. We will see if she will get stronger from this.
Re: MARIA ComebackFormer Wimbledon champions Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova have accepted wild cards into next week's grass-court events in Birmingham and Mallorca in advance of the season’s third major tournament. Williams, a five-time singles winner at the All England Club, will play a lead-up event on grass for the first time since 2011. Her appearance in Birmingham will mark her debut at the WTA Premier event. The 38-year-old is looking to win her first title since 2016, which would mark her 50th career trophy. “I'm really excited to be playing in Birmingham for the first time,” Williams said in an official statement. "I always love playing on grass in front of British crowds and have heard wonderful things about the tournament.” World No. 1 Naomi Osaka, defending champion Petra Kvitova, British No. 1 Johanna Konta and former titlist Madison Keys are among the challengers slated to compete alongside Williams and recently crowned French Open champion Ashleigh Barty in a loaded field. Barty, who is not defending her 2018 title in Nottingham this week, is right behind Osaka in the latest rankings. Sharapova has not played in more than four months since withdrawing ahead of her second-round match with Daria Kasatkina in St. Petersburg. The 2004 Wimbledon titlist underwent surgery on her right shoulder in February and is seeking her first grass-court crown in 14 years. Sharapova joins reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber, Anastasija Sevastova, Belinda Bencic, Victoria Azarenka and Roland Garros semifinalist Amanda Anisimova at the WTA International tournament. Sevastova, the 2017 winner, has appeared in every final since the event's inception in 2016. Re: MARIA ComebackIs Barty confirmed to play? She had that tournament on her schedule since the beginning of the year. Now that she won the French Open, I don't think she's gonna run to that tournament. How many French Open winners have played that event lately? Leave it to Sharapova and Potapova .... LOL.. I want to see a Pova-derby. Re: MARIA Comeback"Sharapova played her last official match in January's St.Petersburg, then she underwent a shoulder surgery in March and missed the entire grass-court season." Missed the "grass-court season"??? What lovely red grass they were playing on in Paris. Who writes this stuff ... go firmly to the window and listen with deep emotion, but not with the whining, the pleas of the coward; listen-your final pleasure-to the voices, to the exquisite music of that strange procession Re: MARIA Comeback"Never argue with an idiot - they take you down to their level and then beat you on experience" "Don't wrestle with a pig: you both get dirty, but the pig actually likes it" Re: MARIA ComebackDancing in the streets of La mallorca. Maria decided. The Big D starts here.
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