Three months into her comeback, Maria Sharapova looks very much like the dominant player who won three Grand Slams – except when she serves.
Surgery on her right shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff not only sidelined Sharapova for 10 months but also prompted her to modify her serve. She has shortened the motion to guard against aggravating the injury, and it’s resulted in, well, matches like the one she played Aug. 20 in Toronto, when she beat an overmatched opponent in straight sets even though she served 17 double-faults.
Sharapova’s career isn’t the only thing hinging on her comeback. So is the appeal of women’s tennis, which benefits immensely from Sharapova, as evidenced during the L.A. Women’s Tennis Championships in July. There she was, blowing kisses to the crowd, largely gathered specifically for her. There she was, her signature shriek punctuating every ground stroke in a three-set victory.
At 22, Sharapova is in the throes of a comeback rather than what should be her prime. She won Wimbledon at 17 and collected two more Grand Slams when she won the U.S. Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008. The on-court success, the magazine shoots, the publicity and pressure – she shouldered the burden of stardom effortlessly until her shoulder gave out.
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