Tennis: Sharapova gunning for another final

INDIAN WELLS, California: Maria Sharapova, who last year reached her first Grand Slam final since 2008, has parlayed 2011's run of success into a solid start to the new WTA Tour campaign.

The three-time Grand Slam champion is back in the top five in the world after a couple of injury-plagued seasons which saw her fall to 14th at the end of 2009 after five consecutive seasons finishing inside the top 10.

Sharapova, who turns 25 next month, finished last year ranked fourth overall after reaching the final of Wimbledon. She also made it to the final of this year's Australian Open where she lost to Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-0.

The 2006 Indian Wells champion Sharapova appeared to be on her way to the final here last year before she ran head first into Caroline Wozniacki, losing 6-1, 6-2 in the semis.

The Russian-born Sharapova, who now lives in nearby Los Angeles, said she has strong memories of playing in Indian Wells, especially in 2002 when she was hammered 6-0, 6-2 by Monica Seles.

Sharapova has had some major success in Indian Wells but she has also had some real stinkers, including the Seles match and in 2005 when she was double bagelled by Lindsay Davenport 6-0, 6-0.

But this time the former world number one Sharapova has the fear factor on her side when she comes up against an either lower-ranked or a younger opponent trying to make her way on the tour.

The second seeded Sharapova will face either Argentina's Gisela Dulko or Australian Jelena Dokic in her second round opening match.

Her path at Indian Wells could see her go through to face last year's US Open champ Samatha Stosur in the quarters.

Sharapova knows what it is like to bite the dust in the California desert and says of big part of managing her game at the 16,100 seat Indian Wells Tennis Garden is adjusting to the strong winds that can buffet the main court at times. (AFP)