Maria Sharapova will play doubles only for the third time since 2005 and her new partner will be Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium. The two will team up at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford which starts July 26.
Last two doubles matches Sharapova played were at the 2009 Indian Wells with Elena Vesnina and at the 2005 Birmingham with Maria Kirilenko.
Sharapova has won three doubles titles in her career: the 2004 Birmingham with Maria Kirilenko, and Tokyo and Luxembourgh in 2003 with Tamarine Tanasugarn. Wickmayer still has no Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles titles. As for their ranking, Sharapova is currently unranked in doubles, while Wickmayer is ranked 131st. (photos: Stephane Martinache, © Neal Trousdale)
That will be one tall doubles team 😛 I’m surprised at this, as you said she’s played doubles twice in the last five years. It’s a good decision though, and one I’m glad she’s making because she clearly feels as if she needs match practice.
Two tall Bolletieri girls 🙂
Two very tall Bolletieri girls 😛 I wonder if they’ll be any good…
Me too, I am so excited to see them play together, cos I never heard Masha is friend with her or so.
As far as I can see – this is a hoax – In the official draw site (http://www.bankofthewestclassic.com/Assets/Bank of the West Classic/2010 Photos/media/Doubles Draw.pdf) – Maria Sharapova is nowhere to be found in the doubles schedule and Yanina Wickmayer seems to play double with Daniella Hantuchova instead
MashaFan, thanks for the note. There was a change in the plan: http://www.tennis.fm/2010/07/sharapova-not-playing-doubles-in-stanford/
http://www.zimbio.com/Tennis/articles/UySo91K7WHw/Sharapova not playing doubles Stanford