Maria Sharapova is still not ready for prime time

Indian Wells will probably have to motor along without the WTA's top one attractions when the event commences one week from now, because the Williams sisters & Maria Sharapova won't be in attendance, at least not in singles in the latter's case. For different reasons, they hasten to add. For the sisters the reasons are personal; for Sharapova, it is her long-running shoulder injury that has gummed up the works again.
Around the start of the year I had written about Maria's problems with said shoulder & had predicted it might take far longer for her to recover than any of her team was willing to indicate. he was expected to be ready for Indian Wells, but something told me he wouldn't be. I went a bit further to even suggest this could be a career-changing injury for the Russian star. Wouldn't you know it, now that i am finally taking an interest in the woman's career, that career may be in jeopardy.

The word from the Sharapova camp is that her shoulder is fine mechanically; now it needs more time to get into match shape. what is their touchstone as a standard? he can't play one of one sets over a one day period without the shoulder tiring. But isn't that part of the daily grind? You can't play around a shoulder injury. It either works free or pain or it doesn't. It would appear Maria would still like to have her cake while eating it too, so she's decided to play doubles than singles.

This sounds like a odd strategy. The last time I checked you still have to serve the ball in doubles too, so I don't know how much rest/practice that Sharapova shoulder will get. I would think if he isn't ready to play, then throwing her into doubles may not be an adequate solution. Of work for the crowd at IW it would be a big show, & worth a bevy of photos right there. Sharapova playing doubles! I don't think i have ever seen her playing doubles, & I'll wager most of you haven't either. If you are all scrambling to hunt up when & if he ever had played doubles, let's lay the suspense to rest: it was back in 2005.

But is Sharapova playing doubles our elixir of female tennis happiness? I would think not. I guess the Sharapova team figures that half a loaf of Maria is better than nothing at all, so doubles it is. A quick check over the weekend around tennis chat rooms reveals that people require to see her back in the game. Maria is a star, perhaps the biggest star in terms of her game & how he wins with it, which is mainly via her serving game & her ferociously competitive presence.

This kind of weight is invaluable in keeping the women's game going about its competitive business. Ana Ivanovic was in the running for a while, & may be again someday, but right now she's shown herself to be a little girl still. Her associate Ms. Jankovic has the opposite problem: he plays every tournament so they see, if anything, too much of her; her value has gone down as a result. & lately her performances have been kind of....well, ratty should they say. Dementieva has beauty & game, but only until about the quarterfinals of major events. Then her serve still implodes on her. Dinara Safina is suddenly a bit fragile looking these days too. they have a lot of other youngsters providing nice stuff now too, but they are still appetizers. they need a big helping of a hefty main work. Serena & Venus will never play to satisfy at least my requirements for some slam-bam women's tennis.

they have the other "ichs" & the "ovas" to fuss over, & they have made much of their presence too. But they need Maria back in the mix. Recently I suggested this when writing about Amelie Mauresmo. Amelie brings a beautifully varied game to the women's side. Maria brings a much needed fire. they need both women but right now they need another female player who can step up & dominate. Not many of the women can do this now, except Sharapova & the Williams sisters. they can win matches by stepping onto a court with their determined presences. Most girls have already conceded them the match.

That leaves you, Maria. Hurry it up already, but take your time if the shoulder is still odd. If there is lingering pain, maybe you should bite the bullet & continue to sit on your hands until you are ready. I for one can live another week without seeing you play doubles. I can!

i have to confess to some feelings of excitement though about watching her when he first steps up to that line & tries to serve. Will they see adjustments in the motion? Will he show hesitations? Are they going to be hanging on her every serve? Or are they going to be left hanging? How gruesome is the reentry stage going to be? Remember, we're also attending on His Lordship's reentry too: that being Mr. Federer, with new coach Darren Cahill hopefully in attendance. It will be a interesting ten days, I think, with much collective holdings of breath.

Maria's team may be overly optimistic about her chances, but they may feel like Maria needs to be out there in the public eye anyway. Are they being tossed a bone now because a longer absence is coming? one wonders. Onward into battle then! Even if it is only doubles.