Maria Sharapova is in great form. The Russian star has been a revelation since last year's Tour-ending championships where she came back to her best only to fall short in an epic encounter with long-term rival Justine Henin. In Madrid the world No.1 was just too good, but 2008 has been a different story.

Sharapova has had her rivals running scared in the early part of the season. Even the world's best, such as Henin, the Williams sisters and the Serbian army are struggling to deal with the power and 2008 determination of the Moscow Flyer. Maria won Down Under at the first major of the season in Australia, thrashing her opponents in every round - and nothing has changed since.

She won her first clay-court tournament last week in Amelia Island and the the Russian looks set to give a good account of herself during the European clay-court season, which features the prestigious French Open Championships at Roland Garros.

'It's true to say Sharapova is never at her best on clay, but maybe last week's victory will give her the confidence which she has needed in recent years to defeat the very best on the surface'


It's true to say Sharapova is never at her best on clay, but maybe last week's victory will give her the confidence which she has needed in recent years to defeat the very best on the surface. She was a semi-finalist in last year's tournamant, falling to Ana Ivanovic, but this year Sharapova has a new confidence which could see her become the latest Russian to win a Grand Slam.

Justine Henin is the one to beat at Roland Garros. She is a firm favourite with the Parisian crowd having won the tournament four times already - including each of the last three years! It's a phenomenal achievement considering the strength of the ladies' game at the moment.

Henin has a 6-3 head-to-head lead over her Russian rival. However, Maria Sharapova destroyed the Belgian in Melbourne at the start of the year and after Henin's heavy loss to Serena Williams in Miami a few weeks ago, she doesn't look as dominant as she did in previous years.

Henin has made the tournament her own and will fight all the way to defend her trophy, However, with Sharapova only losing one match in the whole of 2008 she has nothing to fear going into the middle of the season on a high.

The clay-court season looks set to be a battle of tactics and long rallies. Which player will have the patience to build up momentum in matches and outplay her opponents? For me it will be Sharapova - as long as she stays fit and her shoulder, which has given her distress in past years, stays in tip-top condition.

The former world No.1 is looking to regain her position as the dominant force in women's tennis in 2008 and for many years to come. To do that, she needs further Grand Slam successes to add to her three tournament victories this year already.

A lot will depend on the build-up to the tournaments. Big events in Rome, Berlin and Charleston will help see who the in-form clay court players and are very important in finding the favourite for success in Roland Garros.

Although Henin IS the 'French Open' of ladies tennis over the last few years, I feel Sharapova possesses the game which could upset the odds and gain her a second major of the tennis season.

 It's a bold statement, I know - but that could set up the chance of a 2008 Grand Slam of all four majors ifor the Russian queen.

Tennis players, Online Tennis