Three-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova says that the London 2012 Olympics is a huge target for her as she looks for a long-awaited run without injuries.


Maria Sharapova
"The Olympics is one of my biggest goals, as an athlete growing up in Russia the Olympics was a huge part of our culture so I can't wait to be an Olympian.

"Hopefully I'll see my flag go up when I'm up on stage hopefully getting a medal so it'll be a really exciting part of my career."

After another spell out injured, Sharapova was delighted with her comeback performance in California, and she hopes to build on that in Miami in the next Masters event coming up next week.

"It was my first tournament since coming back, after Australia I missed a few events in Paris and then in Doha and Dubai. To be out of competition was tough so I'm really happy that I did so well in Palm Springs."

Sharapova also stated that another aim was to win the French Open - the only grand slam title to so far evade her grasp and on a surface that has not seemed to suit her game over the years.

With Justine Henin retired again and the Williams sisters struggling with injury and loss of form, Sharapova says a new era of player could be coming up to form the sort of rivalries she, Serena and Henin used to battle out.

Current world number one Carolina Wozniacki has come under fire for not winning a grand slam despite topping the rankings, so this year Sharapova believes the Dane will be going all out to win one of the big ones.

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