In recent months, women’s tennis has heard its fair share of criticism.
While the men’s side of the game has thrived with the competition of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and the emergence of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, the ladies have been accused of being all too predictable, with the "sister act" of Venus and Serena Williams playing at a level that others simply cannot match.
However, that could all change in the coming months.
After seven months away from competitive tennis, Maria Sharapova is back. The Russian took part in a doubles match at Indian Wells last week in what was her first serious match since August last year; she teamed up with fellow Russian Elena Vesnina to face Ekaterina Makarova and Tatiana Poutchek.
And though Sharapova's side lost 6-2, 4-6, 10-7, there can be no doubt that seeing Maria back on court is great news for tennis fans everywhere.
It's undeniable that tennis (and the women’s game in particular) has sorely missed Sharapova. It was all too evident at January’s Australian Open, when the lack of depth in the women’s game was exposed.
In the final, Serena Williams took less than an hour to dispose of Dinara Safina, a good player in her own right, winning comfortably 6-3, 6-0. One could argue Sharapova would have put up much more of a fight.
The first item on the agenda for the Russian will undoubtedly be to regain her No. 1 ranking. For the majority of last season, Sharapova was the best lady in the land, but a shoulder injury unfortunately cut her season short.
Seven months of the Williams sisters dominating the tour later, it seems the Russian can’t come back soon enough. Apparently, no one else can seriously challenge the American duo.
Ana Ivanovic has flattered to deceive since her triumph at Roland Garros last year. Jelena Jankovic has promised much but has yet to win a Grand Slam title. And the aforementioned Safina has lost both major finals she’s been a part of.
That’s where Sharapova comes in. She has the game and the pedigree to challenge Serena and sister Venus; her powerful groundstrokes are able to trouble anyone on the tour.
That’s not to say she doesn’t have her detractors. The Russian’s powerful baseline game has often been accused of being one-dimensional. Some say it lacks variety and finesse.
Doubts remain over her fitness, too. Until she proves that she has overcome the shoulder problem which plagued her serve at both the French Open and Wimbledon last year, the uncertainty over her long-term future will persist.
But she will always draw casual fans to the game. The Russian was the most searched-for athlete on Yahoo! in both 2005 and 2008 and is arguably more known for her interests off-court rather than her work on it.
But unlike another certain Russian, who won nothing apart from endorsement contracts, Sharapova has the titles to back up her extracurricular activities.
And that’s what it comes down to: titles. The Williams sisters’ domination has made the women’s game boring and predictable in many people’s eyes, and healthy competition is required at the top end. The ladies need their own Federer v. Nadal-caliber battle.
The return of Maria Sharapova might bring just the competition the sport requires. She may well be the shot in the arm that women’s tennis needs.
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