Maria Sharapova Australian Open preview and some practice photos
Maria Sharapova is seeded 14th in the Australian Open. Maria won the title in 2008 but missed 2009 because a shoulder injury.
Maria Sharapova will open vs friend and country women Maria Kirilenko. Sharapova leads the series 2-1 including the last meeting in Miami 2006.
The second round brings Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland or a qualifier. Sharapova played Bacsinszky once in Zurich 2006. Maria won the match 6-4 6-3.
The third round Sharapova could face 23rd seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia. Sharapova leads the series 2-1 over Cibulkova. Cibulkova won the last meeting knocking Maria out of the 2009 French 6-0 6-2.
The fourth round if the seed holds could bring 2nd seed and country women Dinara Safina. The two last played in 2008 French Open with Safina winning their 6-7 7-6 6-2. The series is 3-3.
The fifth round could have 8th seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. The two last played in Tokyo in 2009 Sharapova won. The series is 5-1 Sharapova.
The semis could have players like 3rd seed Svetlana Kuznestsova, 5th seed Elena Dementieva, Justine Henin, or 15th seed Kim Clijsters.
The top half of the draw which Maria could met has top seed and defending champion Serena Williams, 6th seed Venus Williams, 4th seed Caroline Wozniacki, or 10th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
here are some photos of Maria practicing on the 13th
