Sharapova: I've not peaked yet
Saturday, 26 Jan 2008 11:42
Sharapova says she can still improve her game
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Maria Sharapova has sent a warning to her rivals insisting she has not reached the peak of her abilities yet.
Speaking after securing her third career Grand Slam title in Australia the Russian said that she was continuing to learn and improve.
The 20-year-old has certainly gone a long way since last season which saw her struggling for form due to a troublesome shoulder injury that was affecting her serve.
Loss of form and time on the treatment table meant her ranking slipped meaning the seventh seed was forced to play Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin and Jelena Jankovic en route to the final.
Having beaten them and fourth seed Ana Ivanovic in the final Sharapova said she felt there was more to come from her game.
"I know I've already won three Grand Slams but I keep saying that I don't think I'm at the peak of my career yet," added the Russian.
"I don't think my body has developed 100 per cent into its own and I've got many things to learn in my tennis and many things to build and improve."
Sharapova said beating the players she had during the fortnight in Melbourne gave her confidence of future success this season.
She said: "This was probably the toughest draw that I've ever had in a Grand Slam but I'm the champion here. So if I can get a tough draw and win it - hey, I'd do that any time."
Ivanovic lost her second Grand Slam final, after being beaten in the French Open by Justine Henin last season, but claimed she would win one soon.
The Serb said: "Of course I am disappointed but I feel I have plenty of Grand Slam finals ahead of me.
"It's a little bit disappointing because I thought I had a lot of chances in that first set but didn't use them."