Sharapova remains Russia's brightest hope at The Open, although there is always the chance she will come up against her long-time rival Serena Williams, who defeated her at Wimbledon and at the London Olympic Games. At 25, Sharapova is in her tennis prime. She played in two grand slam finals this year, winning at Roland Garros, and she reached the semi-finals of the US Open. Winning the Australian Open could be the beginning of a new chapter in the story of Sharapova’s tennis career, a victory that would underline her maturity as a player.

http://rbth.ru/articles/2012/11/13/sharapova_to_lead_russian_charge_in_melbourne_20061.html