OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AS SHARAPOVA MAKES RETURN, BUT MUGURUZA’S THE ONE TO BEAT
AT 6pm last night, California time, Maria Sharapova was due to hit her first tennis balls in anger since May. The 30-year-old Russian, who could have been the headline act at this year’s Wimbledon, was scheduled to play for the Orange County Breakers against the San Diego Aviators in the opening match of America’s World Team Tennis league. Garbine Muguruza would probably have still been in her dress for last night’s Wimbledon champions’ dinner, by the time Sharapova stepped on court before a sold-out crowd of 2,500 at the Aviators’ stadium at the renowned La Costa resort. ‘It’s great to play for the Breakers again,’ said Sharapova. ‘The competition in World Team Tennis is always strong so I’m excited to get back on the court.’ Sharapova has elected to play two matches for the Breakers (British doubles player Ken Skupski will be one of her team-mates) to tune herself up for the programme of WTA Tour events that lead into the US Open at the end of August. The Russian was last seen retiring at the Italian Open, prior to her decision not to put herself through Wimbledon’s qualifying event at Roehampton, citing a leg injury. It would have been fascinating to see how she performed at SW19, not to mention how she would have dealt with the blowtorch of scrutiny that would have accompanied her appearance on the way back from her suspension for doping. The sense of excitement that Sharapova Spot on: how Sportsmail called it on Saturday morning referred to is unlikely to have been dampened by what she may have seen from afar of the last fortnight. She will have taken note that a 37-year-old, Venus Williams,
was able to make it to the final, despite ongoing health issues and the distraction of off-court traumas relating to a fatal car crash that she was involved in. The Russian, seven years Venus’s junior, will know that in the absence of Serena Williams there are plenty of opportunities for her to win titles. Her first tournament on phase two of her comeback is the Bank of the West Classic in California at the end of this month, for which she has received a wildcard. There were plenty of good matches to savour at Wimbledon, although it was unfortunate they dried up from the semi-finals onwards. Saturday’s final was the 10th out of the last 11 that was settled in straight sets after Venus’s surprising capitulation. But Muguruza is worthy of filling one of the top places in a women’s top 10 that tomorrow will feature Jo Konta as the world No 4, after her run to the semis. This tournament will prove more of a watershed to Konta than the Spanish champion, who already has a Grand Slam to her name — last year’s French Open. Muguruza may turn out to be one of those players who is lifted by the big events, rather than one who churns it out week after week. Addressing that on Saturday night, she reflected on how she had failed to find any consistency after winning Roland Garros. An extreme example was her 6-1, 6-0 defeat in Eastbourne’s first round the week before Wimbledon. ‘I would like to change things. People think that when you win it’s so easy but it’s not easy also to handle it,’ she said. ‘Probably I always expect myself to play so good and when it doesn’t happen it’s hard to deal with. ‘But the best way is to be humble and go back to the court, start in the hard court season and keep working.’ Muguruza’s temporary coach, 1994 champion Conchita Martinez, said she would try to impress on Muguruza the need for consistent application: ‘Hopefully she can stay a little more steady. The key is to continue routines, continue to work hard and focus on every tournament you play.’