Sharapova looking forward to clayRussian pin-up Maria Sharapova says she is feeling more confident on clay this year because her body has matured.
The gangly 24-year-old has never looked fully comfortable on the red stuff and at times has looked rather ungainly when playing on clay.
But the former world No 1 and Wimbledon champion, who is seeded seventh here at the Italian Masters, says things are looking up.
"Part of it is experience and part of it is coming to Europe earlier, now I have a few weeks to prepare whereas before I was arriving just a few days before my matches," she said.
"Before I never felt physically strong enough to play six matches in seven days but my body has definitely matured and it's easier for me to move on clay now than it was three or four years ago."
Sharapova is probably the top drawcard in the women's competition here, especially with the likes of the Williams sisters and Kim Clijsters all absent.
But the Russian feels that regardless, women's tennis is much more open than it once was.
"As far as (ranking) points go it's more open and it's as deep as it's ever been," she said.
"A few years ago when I came into tournaments I felt the first couple of matches were a warm-up but now the first match is very tough.
"You have to be ready to face someone who's had great results, it's deep, it's difficult and you just have to take every match as it comes."
And Sharapova says it would be far too simple to consider her the favourite here given the absentees.
"It's easy to say that but I've been part of draws where everyone has been in the draw and I won, and others where I felt I had an easy draw but I haven't won, so it's not something I think about."
http://supersport.com/tennis/wta/news/1105...forward_to_clay
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მარია შარაპოვა, Maria Sharapova - Tennis Princess
