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BIRMINGHAM - Maria Sharapova returns to her favourite tennis tournament next week - Wimbledon - feeling stronger than ever and confident she can repeat her 2004 success.
The Russian surprised many people, including herself, by reaching the French Open semifinals on one of her least favourite surfaces and while still recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for two months.
"I think that definitely gives me a lot of confidence moving on to the grass season," the world No 2 said.
"If my shoulder holds up and goes the way it went the last two weeks then I'm definitely really confident."
On grass she is a far cry from the "cow on ice" description she gave herself on clay in Paris and her record at Wimbledon of two semifinal appearances since her win backs up her belief that she is a top contender this year.
"Grass definitely suits my game. With the power and the big first serve I feel I can get a good start on the point," the 20-year-old said.
Since winning Wimbledon as a 17-year-old, Sharapova has worked on the physical aspect of her game and gone from what she described as "a little skinny girl the size of spaghetti" to a more powerful-looking player.
"That's something that I've been working on for the last few years. Year by year I feel stronger ... I've definitely made progress," said Sharapova, who won the US Open last year.
Booed by sections of the crowd in Paris following perceived gamesmanship during one match, Sharapova said she expected Wimbledon fans to show much less hostility.
- REUTERS
