Maria Sharapova started the year ranked niumber one in the world. But after making her second consecutive grand slam final in Australia (she won the US Open last September), it has been somewhat downhill. Serena Williams thrashed her in Australia and Miami, there has been a nagging shoulder injury that has limited her play and last week there was a disappointing loss in the French Open semis.
But now she's on the grass, a surface that suits her game well. Sharapova advanced to the third round at the DFS Classic on Wednesday. She is trying to win her third straight title at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament and struggled early but beat American qualifier Lilia Osterloh 6-4, 6-0. Jankovic defeated Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 6-4, 6-1.
"(Grass) is so different from clay and makes you use different muscles, which can be difficult at first. But I always enjoy playing on this surface," Sharapova said post-match. "And that performance was OK."