Maria Sharapova: Answer to a Prayer? 5
Is Maria Sharapova what the women's tennis game needs?
Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova is the perfect solution to the dilemma in the women’s game today. The tour has never stabilized since Justine Henin stepped down in May of 2008. Henin held the No. 1 ranking for a total of 117 weeks.
With Henin’s abrupt departure, Maria Sharapova assumed the No. 1 ranking for three weeks prior to the 2008 French Open; then Ana Ivanovic held it for nine weeks after winning the French Open for the first time.
Unfortunately, Ivanovic could not keep it and Jelena Jankovic captured it for one week; then, Ivanovic took back the No. 1 ranking for another three weeks, only to lose it when Serena Williams took over and held it for four weeks after winning the U.S. Open. Finally, Jelena Jankovic recaptured the No. 1 spot and held it for another 17 weeks.