If Maria Sharapova wins Roland Garros 2013 not only will she defend her title and win her fifth major, she will lodge herself firmly in the list of second tier greats of the game.
Right now she sits at the top, by virtue of her career slam, of the third tier, with the likes of Clisters, Davenport and Sanchez-Vicario. But seven matches away, one tier up, a place awaits among Hingis, Venus and Henin.
It will, though, not be an easy group to take a place among. In Maria’s way stands history and a woman who is both the favorite for the title and the favorite to beat her in every match they play.
Starting with History, in Maria’s ten years on the tour, she has never defended a Major. That does not mean she won’t, of course. But it raises questions as to the likelihood of her doing so. Defending a slam is as hard as winning the first one. You are the marked player, the pressure is firmly on your shoulders. Maria has never even reached the final of a slam won the previous year. That is somewhat down to her injuries and her game which as overwhelming as it is on her best days is extremely exploitable on her worst.
The next obstacle, and the biggest, is Serena Williams. 15 times they have played and only two of those times has Maria emerged the victor. Both those times came nine years ago. In the past 12 months, 6 times they have played and just one set has been won by Maria. Should they meet in the final, Maria will have to play the match of her life and hope Serena is having one of those days.
Should they meet, though. Serena has not been to a final in Paris since even longer ago than the last time Maria beat her. 2002 to be exact. She has not been to a semi-final since 2003. Srebotnik, Kuznetsova, Stosur, Henin, Razzano, Capriati, the good and the great and the greatest, herself, have put paid to her prospects over the years. And this year in her side of the draw looms a player who has the game to join that list of names: Li Na. If Serena gets past her, it is most likely, if their Rome final last week is anything to go by, she will play Sharapova in the final.
If that natch happens, we are either going to see one of the following spectacles: a) a beatdown of the highest order inflicted on Sharapova by Serena (not for the squeamish) or b) the match of the year as Maria, for whom red clay has yielded her greatest successes the past couple of seasons, defeats both history, Serena and her own mental block against Williams to win the title.
Either way it will be fascinating.
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