Results and statistics from Maria Sharapova's 2006 tennis season.
Yearly summary
Australian Open series Maria Sharapova began her season at the Australian Open, as the fourth seed. After overcoming a tricky section which included Serena Williams and Daniela Hantuchová, she reached the semi-finals for the second (of four) consecutive year, where she fell in three sets to Justine Henin-Hardenne.Henin-Hardenne downs Sharapova to reach decider – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Indian Wells & Miami Sharapova won her first title of the year at Indian Wells, by defeating compatriot Elena Dementieva in the final in straight sets; it was her first title since she won Birmingham in 2005, and it was the eleventh final out of the last thirteen contested in which she won.Sharapova beats Dementieva in Indian Wells Her good form continued into Miami, where she also reached the final for the second consecutive year. However, she was defeated in straight sets by Svetlana Kuznetsova; this marked only the fourth final in which she lost.Kuznetsova beats Sharapova to claim Miami title – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) After the latter defeat, Sharapova took two months off the Tour to recover from a foot injury.
European clay court season Sharapova was seeded fourth at the French Open. In the first round, she overcame Mashona Washington, saving three match points in the process.Sharapova fights back in Paris – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) She then lost in the fourth round to Dinara Safina (after leading 5–1 in the final set), thus failing to make the quarter-finals of the French Open for the first time since 2003.Sharapova Falls at French Open – New York Times
Wimbledon Sharapova was again seeded fourth at Wimbledon, where she reached the semi-finals for the third consecutive year. After winning her first three matches in straight sets, she was more sternly tested by Flavia Pennetta in the fourth round, but still pulled through in three sets.
In the final eight, she faced first-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Elena Dementieva and won through in straight sets after a streaker briefly interrupted the match in the second set.Wylie, Ian (5 July 2006). Streaker stops play on Centre Court , Salford Advertiser, Retrieved November 15, 2010
In the semi-finals, she lost to Amélie Mauresmo, who eventually captured the title.Mauresmo survives lapse to reach Wimbledon final – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) This marked the fifth time since her Wimbledon victory in 2004 in which she lost to the eventual champion at a Major, and also the fifth time in which she was defeated in the semi-finals of a Major tournament.
US Open series In the lead-up to the US Open, Sharapova captured her second title of the season by defeating Kim Clijsters in the final of the Acura Classic in San Diego, and in doing so claimed her first victory over the Belgian in five attempts.Sharapova ends Clijsters jinx – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Sharapova entered the US Open as the third seed. She defeated Michaëlla Krajicek, Émilie Loit, Elena Likhovtseva, Li Na and Tatiana Golovin all in straight sets, before being tested in three sets by World No. 1 Amélie Mauresmo, who had beaten her at Wimbledon earlier in the year. Sharapova would be too good for the Frenchwoman this time, winning in three sets, two of which were won without dropping a game.Sharapova stuns Mauresmo to reach final – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) In the final, she faced Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne, who had previously captured the title in 2003 (and would do so again in 2007), and recorded an impressive straight sets victory to claim her second Grand Slam title at just 19 years of age.Sharapova wins US Open – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Fall series After her success at the us open she won back to back titles at the tier 1 Zurich Open by defeating Shahar Pe'er, Timea Bacsinszky, Katarina Srebotnik, Daniela Hantuchova. She also won the tier 2 Linz Open by defeating Nadia Petrova in the final and thus taking her 5th title of the year.
WTA Tour Championships Sharapova qualified for the year-end WTA Tour Championships for the third consecutive year, having captured five titles during the regular season. As the second seed, she was drawn in the Red Group along with Kim Clijsters, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva. Sharapova went through the round robin stage undefeated, and thus qualified for the semi-finals after finishing first in the group.
The semi-final saw her up against Justine Henin-Hardenne for the fourth time in the year. Sharapova was defeated in straight sets, thus bringing an end to her otherwise impressive 2006 season.
All matches This table chronicles all the matches of Sharapova in 2006, including walkovers (W/O) which the WTA does not count as wins. They are marked ND for non-decision or no decision.
Singles matches Tournament # Round Opponent Result Score Australian OpenMelbourne, AustraliaGrand SlamHard, outdoor16–29 January 2006 1 Sandra Klösel 6–2, 6–1 2 Ashley Harkleroad 6–1, 7–5 3 Jelena Kostanić 6–0, 6–1 4 Daniela Hantuchová 6–4, 6–4 5 Nadia Petrova 7–6(8–6), 6–4 6 Justine Henin-Hardenne 6–4, 1–6, 4–6 Pacific Life OpenIndian Wells, United States of AmericaTier IHard, outdoor6–19 March 2006 Bye Jamea Jackson 6–4, 6–3 Lisa Raymond 6–4, 6–0 Shahar Pe'er 7–6(7–2), 6–1 Anna-Lena Grönefeld 6–1, 6–3 Martina Hingis 6–3, 6–3 Elena Dementieva 6–1, 6–2 NASDAQ-100 OpenMiami, United States of AmericaTier IHard, outdoor20 March–2 April 2006 Bye Li Na 6–2, 6–4 Maria Elena Camerin 6–2, 7–6(7–2) Maria Kirilenko 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 Anastasia Myskina 6–4, 6–4 Tatiana Golovin 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 4–3, ret. Svetlana Kuznetsova 4–6, 3–6 French OpenParis, FranceGrand SlamClay, outdoor28 May–11 June 2006 Mashona Washington 6–2, 5–7, 7–5 Iveta Benešová 6–4, 6–1 Alicia Molik 6–0, 7–5 Dinara Safina 5–7, 6–2, 5–7 WimbledonLondon, Great BritainGrand SlamGrass, outdoor26 June–9 July 2006 Anna Smashnova 6–2, 6–0 Ashley Harkleroad 6–2, 6–2 Amy Frazier 6–3, 6–2 Flavia Pennetta 7–6(7–5), 3–6, 6–3 Elena Dementieva 6–1, 6–4 Amélie Mauresmo 3–6, 6–3, 2–6 Acura ClassicSan Diego, United States of AmericaTier IHard, outdoor29 July–6 August 2006 Bye Vasilisa Bardina 6–4, 6–1 Vera Zvonareva 6–4, 6–4 Mary Pierce 6–2, 6–3 Patty Schnyder 7–5, 6–4 Kim Clijsters 7–5, 7–5 US OpenNew York City, United States of AmericaGrand SlamHard, outdoor28 August–10 September 2006 Michaëlla Krajicek 6–3, 6–0 Émilie Loit 6–0, 6–1 Elena Likhovtseva 6–3, 6–2 Li Na 6–4, 6–2 Tatiana Golovin 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–0) Amélie Mauresmo 6–0, 4–6, 6–0 Justine Henin-Hardenne 6–4, 6–4 Zurich OpenZurich, SwitzerlandTier IHard, indoor16–22 October 2006 Bye Shahar Pe'er 6–4, 7–6(7–4) Timea Bacsinszky 6–4, 6–3 Katarina Srebotnik 7–6(7–3), 6–2 Daniela Hantuchová 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 Generali Ladies LinzLinz, AustriaTier IIHard, indoor23–29 October 2006 Bye Eleni Daniilidou 7–5, 6–1 Ana Ivanovic 7–6(7–3), 7–5 Patty Schnyder 7–5, 7–5 Nadia Petrova 7–5, 6–2 WTA Tour ChampionshipsMadrid, SpainWTA Tour ChampionshipsHard, indoor7–12 November 2006 Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–1, 6–4 Kim Clijsters 6–4, 6–4 Elena Dementieva 6–1, 6–4 Justine Henin-Hardenne 2–6, 6–7(5–7)
Tournament schedule
Singles Schedule DateChampionshipLocationCategorySurfacePrev. resultNew resultOutcome 16 January 2006–29 January 2006 Australian Open Melbourne (AUS) Grand Slam tournament Hard SF SF Lost in the semi-finals against Justine Henin-Hardenne 6 March 2006–19 March 2006 Pacific Life Open Indian Wells (USA) Tier I Hard SF W Won in the final against Elena Dementieva 20 March 2006–2 April 2006 NASDAQ-100 Open Miami (USA) Tier I Hard F F Lost in the final against Svetlana Kuznetsova 28 May 2006–11 June 2006 French Open Paris (FRA) Grand Slam tournament Clay QF 4R Lost in the fourth round against Dinara Safina 26 June 2006–9 July 2006 The Championships, Wimbledon London (GBR) Grand Slam tournament Grass SF SF Lost in the semi-finals against Amélie Mauresmo 29 July 2006–6 August 2006 Acura Classic San Diego (USA) Tier I Hard DNP W Won in the final against Kim Clijsters 28 August 2006–10 September 2006 US Open New York (USA) Grand Slam tournament Hard SF W Won in the final against Justine Henin-Hardenne 16 October 2006–22 October 2006 Zurich Open Zurich (SUI) Tier I Hard (i) DNP W Won in the final against Daniela Hantuchová 23 October 2006–29 October 2006 Generali Ladies Linz Linz (AUT) Tier II Hard (i) DNP W Won in the final against Nadia Petrova 7 November 2006–12 November 2006 WTA Tour Championships Madrid (ESP) WTA Tour Championships Hard SF SF Lost in the semi-finals against Justine Henin-Hardenne
Yearly Records
Head-to-head matchups Ordered by number of wins Elena Dementieva 3–1 Martina Hingis 2–1 Daniela Hantuchova 2–0 Shahar Peer 2–0 Ashley Harkleroad 2–0 Eleni Daniilidou 1–0 Jelena Kostanic Tosic 1–0 Ana Ivanovic 1–0 Sandra Kloese 1–0 Kim Clijsters 1–2 Svetlana Kuznetsova 1–1 Nadia Petrova 2–0 Patty Schnyder 2–0 Justine Henin 2–2 Timea Bacsinszky 1–0 Katarina Srebotnik 1–0 Daniela Hantuchova 2–0 Ekaterina Bychkova 1–0 Marion Bartoli 1–0 Dinara Safina 1–1 Anastasia Rodionova 1–0 Anna Chakvetadze 0–1
Finals
Singles: 7 (5–2) CategoryGrand Slam (1–0)WTA Tier I (3–1)WTA Tier II (1–1)Titles by surfaceHard (5–2)Titles by conditionsOutdoors (3–2)Indoors (2–0)
OutcomeNo.DateChampionshipSurfaceOpponent in the finalScore in the finalRunner-up3.February 26, 2006 Dubai, United Arab EmiratesHard Justine Henin-Hardenne5–7, 2–6Winner11.March 19, 2006 Indian Wells, USA (1)Hard Elena Dementieva6–1, 6–2Runner-up4.April 1, 2006 Miami, USA (2)Hard Svetlana Kuznetsova4–6, 3–6Winner12.August 6, 2006 San Diego, USA (1)Hard Kim Clijsters7–5, 7–5Winner13.September 9, 2006 New York City, USA (1)Hard Justine Henin-Hardenne4–6, 4–6Winner14.October 22, 2006 Zurich, SwitzerlandHard (i) Daniela Hantuchová6–1, 4–6, 6–3Winner15.October 29, 2006 Linz, AustriaHard (i) Nadia Petrova7–5, 6–2
See also 2006 Serena Williams tennis season 2006 WTA Tour
References
External links