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Sharapova's 2002 season hihglights
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In the 2002 season there were three titles on her score gained in ITF competitions – in Gunma, Japan, Vancouver, Canada and Peachtree City, USA. In 2003 Maria Sharapova started testing her strength in big tournaments on a regular basis. She qualified for Australian Open in January, in February she was the 153rd in WTA computer rating, in May she won another ITF competition in Sea Island, USA, – and once again, this time in Roland Garros, qualified for a “Grand Slam” tournament.
Then a series of tournaments on grass began – it is a kind of surface on which Sharapova plays particularly well. And in Birmingham Maria “shot ” the right way – defeating three “sowed” ones right away – France’s Natalie Dechy (5), Mari-Gayane Mikaelyan from Switzerland (11), and Elena Dementieva (1) and after that, in half-final round during the time-break in 3rd set, lost to Shinobu Asagoe from Japan. And then, having received a personal invitation from the organizers, Maria successfully played in the Wimbledon tournament and ranked amongst the 16 best players. In the latter half of 2003 Masha had her first serious accomplishments: she was able to win two WTA tournaments in Tokyo and Quebec City and ranked 32nd in the WTA rating by the end of the year.
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