Russian cutie pie, Maria Sharapova, had the highest winning percentage on tour this year at 89%.
Sharapova went 32-4 through the year. She started out well, winning the first 18 matches she played this season. She played great at the Australian Open winning her 3rd Grand Slam. It certainly looked like it would be Sharapova’s year.
Unfortunately, in March she strained her shoulder playing at Indian Wells. Then in the French Open she struggled, losing in the fourth round. At Wimbledon she was defeated in the 2nd round.
Then in July, doctors discovered that her shoulder injury was actually a torn rotator cuff. That ended her season. She withdrew from the Olympics and wasn’t able to play the U.S. Open.
So what began as a very promising season was cut short by injury. One can only wonder what her year would have been like if she had not injured her shoulder. The year could have been all Sharapova, with a No. 1 ranking at the end of the year. As it stands now, she is ranked 9th. And even while playing injured in several tournaments, she still had the highest winning percentage on tour. That’s quite an accomplishment.
Sharapova’s recovery has gone well. She is planning to play in the Australian Open again. Hopefully her injury is completely healed and she can show us this year what might have been last year.
Good luck, Maria!
