Maria Sharapova is relieved today after winning her 1st round match against Ksenia Pervak, 6-3, 6-2 during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris.
It was an all-Russian match, pitting No. 12 seed Maria of Nyagan, Russia against unseeded Ksenia of Chelyabinsk, Russia. Ksenia came out determined, and Maria came out a little shaky, resulting in Maria losing her first service game. Ksenia then held to go up 2-0, but Maria began hitting out on her shots and got grooved in, looking more like her old self.
Maria is playing without the taped shoulder that we had seen in previous matches after her shoulder surgery. Her most recent injury was a bruised elbow which causes a lot of pain. Hopefully this is a sign that Maria can focus on her game instead of her injuries and make a strong showing at this tournament.
The French Open is the only major that Maria has not won. Her best showing at Roland Garros is a semifinal appearance in 2007.
Maria will now take on No. 71 ranked Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in round 2. Kirsten has played in the French Open only twice, in 2006 and 2009. Both years she did not make it past the 2nd round.
