Sharapova within striking distance of World #1 - wins Brisbane

Happy 2015 tennis fans. 

And what a way to start the year, with the first 3 WTA winners of 2015... All familiar names... that was very prominent during 2014.

Those of Sharapova, Halep and Williams (but not Serena) - are the first to be engraved on 2015's opening week Trophies...

In the lead-up tournaments to the #AustralianOpen2015, it was wonderful to see that some of 2014's most prominent players are still looking to be in great form. 


Venus Williams - winner in the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. What a positive start to her year. I personally hope that she remains healthy and fit this year. 46 singles titles.

Simona Halep - winner in the Shenzhen Open, Shenzhen, China. Picking up where she left off in 2014. Keep your eyes on her in 2015. I personally have a feeling that there may be a Grand Slam Trophy with her name on it this year. 9 singles titles. 

Maria Sharapova - winner of the first Premier Level WTA tournament for 2015. It's great to see Maria win a trophy in the first week of the year. She has now won at least 1 tournament on tour since 2003, and also only around 700 points behind Serena at #1. 34 singles titles. 

Without getting into match details, I believe that we have great things to look forward to this year. With some of the big names playing in the Hopman Cup. Everyone looks great. Serena, Maria, Simona, Venus, Caroline, Ana... I am looking forward to the best year on the WTA ever. 

On that note. My bags are packed and I am off to my very first ever Grand Slam as a major women's tennis fan. #AustralianOpen2015, here I come. Look out for some feedback in about 2 weeks. 

Let's close of today's blog with some shots of the first winners of 2015... 

Greetings
Charlize

Maria with her Premier Level Trophy in Brisbane. 

Venus Williams with her ASB Classic Trophy.

Simona Halep with her Shenzhen Trophy.

Sharapova back to World #2 with title in Beijing

Sharapova delighted with her first trophy in China

Maria Sharapova's 4th title of the year, ties her for 2nd spot, with Ana Ivanovic, for most tournaments won in 2014. The leader on tour is Serena Williams, with 6 titles. 

Maria defeated current Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in an intense see-saw battle. But the world's best 3 set match player thrives on these intense matches, Sharapova dug deep once again and carried herself home in the third.

Maria's victory in Beijing lifts her 2 spots in the WTA rankings and also secures her spot as #2 in Singapore for the WTA Tour Finals, taking place from 20 - 26 October.

Bagging her 5th Grand Slam title on the Terra Battue of Roland Garros in June, Sharapova had made the 4th round in every other Grand Slam of 2014. Not the results she may have aimed for, but solid, nonetheless. 

Sharapova, and Serena each have very few points to defend up until March 2014, so expect an intense battle for the world #1 spot next year. Throw in Petra Kvitova in the mix, and we have a spot on 2015 to look forward too. 

Here's to celebrating title #4 for Maria. Congrats. And Davai.

To read more and see the match highlights, please visit the WTA website: 

http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/4195644/title/sharapova-wins-beijing-back-to-no2