Former world No.1 Maria Sharapova, now ranked 102nd, for the fourth time in a row at the 2009 French Open showed her well-known characteristics that brought her loads of fans, her ever-present fighting spirit combined with powerful tennis. Sharapova beat Li Na 6-4 0-6 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals, even though it wasn’t expected as Sharapova played her first singles match in nine months only two weeks ago.
Li Na was leading 4-2 in the deciding set, but just as it seemed Sharapova would slowly vanish from the tournament, she won four games in a row to upset Li and prevent her from becoming the first Chinese to reach the Roland Garros quarterfinals. The Russian closed out the match on her first match point.
Sharapova’s next opponent will be seed No.20 Dominika Cibulkova, who beat No.29 seed Agnes Szavay 6-2 6-4 in the fourth round.
The only Grand Slam title missing in Sharapova’s collection is the French Open one. (photo: Stephane Martinache)
I knew IT!!! she ROCKS !!! lovee Her !!
C’mon Maria!!!!
Relax today and tomorrow…and win more one in tuesday!!!!!
God bless you!!!!!!!!!
with this victory maria proved to the all sceptics that she’s really back! well done wait to see u waving with the trophy in the final!!!!!
The actual score was 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
Very surprising to see Maria in the quarters after the injury! And she has a good chance of going to her 2nd French Open semifinal!!!
Daniel, thanks for correcting me, a typo. Honestly, I didn’t expect Maria to go this far, now I have even more respect for her. I don’t want to predict anything for her next match, so as not to push her luck.
c’mone pova i love u and g’luck
I don’t have any expectations for her in this slam too.This is not her best surface. But I hope she could beat Dominika Chibulkova next ^O^
Keep fighting, Maria!! wish you the best ^O^
It has been an unbelievable tournament for her so far, I just hope that her previous three set matches do not catch up with her and cause her level to drop. I think she can get past Cibulkova, but I think it will be yet another tough three set match for her. It’s good match practice though! This is turning out to be an intriguing tournament.
Will add my voice to the chorus of ‘wow Maria you’re backs’ … I think she was very wise to wait until really ready before her comeback she must have a good team working with her. Well done!