The head of the Tennis Federation of Russia Shamil Tarpishchev is sure that Maria has not yet said her last word in her professional career. In the near future, it expects new heights. "There are a lot of talented female athletes in women's tennis, but there is no clear leader, who for a long time was Serena Williams.

This is a plus for Masha. In this situation, she is able to once again become the first racket of the world. She has every chance of this. About 10-12 people can easily become the first racket at the end of the year, including the same Sharapova and Sveta Kuznetsova, "- said the sports functionary in an interview with" Izvestia ". Tarpishchev highly appreciated the success of Sharapova in 2017. , when she returned to tennis after more than an annual disqualification for consuming meldonia. So, last year the Russian won the tournament in Chinese Tianjin, reached the semifinals of the prestigious tournament in Stuttgart, and also reached the 1/8 finals at the US Open. After the New Year, she was first among the 50 strongest tennis players of the world after the disqualification. The head of Russian tennis was pleased not only the results, but also the quality of the game of Mary: "Hit in the top 10 - not an end in itself for Sharapova.

In principle, the quality of the game in the second half of 2017. she performed very well ". A solid age for women's professional tennis (this year Mari turns 31) should not be a hindrance to traffic. At the moment in the rating of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Sharapova takes 47 th line. At the first tournament in 2018. , which was held in the Chinese Shenzhen, she reached the semifinals. "Knowing its sporting character, you can count on the best. Due to her character, she won many important matches in her career. Therefore, at the beginning of the year, if Sharapova will win many games, you must avoid injuries. If she succeeds, most likely, she will again be in the elite of world tennis, "- said Tarpischev. Later, in an interview with R-Sport, the head of the Russian Tennis Federation suggested that Sharapova could enter the top 20 in the French Open Championship, which will be held in May-June.. "She, of course, must still play enough and get into the" twenty ", then it will be easier, in the first rounds there will not be such strong rivals. While everything is going well with Masha, in working order. If last year she did not have an injury, she would really have already been in the "twenty", as planned. I think, to "Roland Garros" she should already be in the top twenty, "- said the head of the federation.

During her sports career, Sharapova was on top of a single rating for 21 weeks. For the first time she became the first racket of the world in August 2005. , at the last moment this happened in June-July 2012.