Sharapova started the year at the Australian Open, where she
defeated fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova to reach the second
Grand Slam semifinal of her career. Sharapova held match
points in the third set of her semifinal match, before
losing to eventual champion Serena Williams.
In February, Sharapova won back-to-back tournaments, the
Toray Pan Pacific Open and the Qatar Total Open, allowing
her to reach the top 3 in the world rankings for the first
time. In the semifinals of the Tier I Pacific Life Open,
Sharapova was defeated by Lindsay Davenport, the first time
she had failed to win a game in a match.
The following fortnight, she defeated former world no. 1
players Justine Henin and Venus Williams to reach the final
at the Tier I NASDAQ-100 Open, where she lost to Kim
Clijsters.
Sharapova made the semifinals of a clay-court tournament for
the first time at the Italian Open, where she lost to Patty
Schnyder. Sharapova would have become world no. 1 for the
first time had she won the tournament.
Sharapova then reached the quarterfinals of the French Open
for the second consecutive year, before losing to eventual
champion Henin.
On grass, Sharapova won her third title of the year when she
successfully defended her title at the DFS Classic,
defeating Jelena Jankovic in the final. As the defending
champion at Wimbledon, Sharapova reached the semifinals
without dropping a set and losing a service game just once,
extending her winning streak on grass to 24 matches.
However, she was then beaten by eventual champion Venus
Williams.
A back injury sustained by world no. 1 Davenport at
Wimbledon prevented her from playing tournaments during the
summer hard-court season, which meant she could not earn new
ranking points to replace those that were expiring from the
previous year. Sharapova, although also injured for much of
this time, had far fewer points to defend, and so she became
the first Russian woman to hold the world no. 1 ranking on
August 22, 2005.
Her reign lasted only one week, however, as Davenport
reclaimed the top ranking after winning the Pilot Pen Tennis
tournament.
As the top seed at the US Open, Sharapova lost in the
semifinals to Kim Clijsters, meaning she had lost to the
eventual champion in every Grand Slam of the season.
However, she once again leapfrogged Davenport to take the
world no. 1 ranking on September 12, 2005.
She retained it for six weeks, but after playing few
tournaments while injured, she again relinquished the
ranking to Davenport. To conclude the year, Sharapova failed
to defend her title at the year-end Sony Ericsson
Championships in Los Angeles, defeating Davenport in one of
her round-robin matches, but ultimately losing in the
semifinals to eventual champion Amélie Mauresmo.
Russian Federation Cup Team - Ericsson Open - Maria Sharapova Photoshoot
press image for big size
Biography
Maria Sharapova born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player. As of February 25, 2013 she is ranked world no. 3.
Lowe: Kobe's greatness was both beautiful and maddening
Kobe Bryant had the skill and knowledge to be any kind of player he wanted to be.
Lakers legend Kobe Bryant: Remembrances and reaction
Find all of ESPN's coverage on Bryant and the Lakers, as well as reaction around the NBA here.
Chiefs: Mahomes' extension may be year away
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt says an extension for Patrick Mahomes will come at the "right time," sometime in the next 12 to 15 months.
Judge frees AB of ankle monitor, house arrest
Free-agent wideout Antonio Brown has been freed from house arrest restrictions by a Florida judge, allowing Brown to travel while he awaits trial on charges of attacking the driver of a moving truck.
Chiefs chairman: Hill's behavior validates deal
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said he senses "a heightened level of maturity" from receiver Tyreek Hill since he signed an extension after authorities declined to press charges against him last April.
Hayward: Didn't give Kobe 'anything free' in finale
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward disputes that he tried to commit a free throw lane violation to ensure that Kobe Bryant would score 60 points in his career finale.
NFL working with police on social media hacks
The NFL acknowledged that league and team social media accounts were hacked, and it's working with platform providers and law enforcement.
Reports: A.I. backpack with $500K jewelry stolen
A backpack reportedly owned by Allen Iverson and containing approximately $500,000 worth of jewelry was stolen at the Sofitel Hotel in Philadelphia, according to multiple reports.
Opening Night: Star QBs meet, and Andy Reid has an impersonator
Super Bowl festivities began Monday when the 49ers and Chiefs met the media. Here are the best sights and sounds.
Meet the NFL's class of 2019: 10 players who graduated to stardom
Lamar Jackson is the likely MVP. Derrick Henry could reset the running back market this offseason. These are the NFL's new stars.
Game, set, another match for Djokovic and Federer
Roger Federer will have to shake off exhaustion if he hopes to take down a near-flawless Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals, the duo's 50th career meeting.
Kobe and Gianna Bryant, a tribute at Manila's famed basketball court
The mural at the famed Tenement court in Manila has become a tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.
'I feel like I've lost a son': NBA legends grapple with Kobe's death
The Los Angeles Lakers legend was a man with limitless possibilities.
Who are the biggest overachievers, underachievers in top leagues?
Who's defying expectations? These teams have strayed furthest from college basketball's preseason script.
Bracketology: Memphis, NC State among notables on bubble
Denied a bid last season, now among those in current bracket peril.
Who is the team to beat in the NL Central? It just might be the Reds
Cincinnati is making the moves to win this winter. The rest of the division is not.
Lessons from Nick Saban and Aaron Boone: How David Ross is preparing to lead the Cubs
Before managing his first game, Chicago's new skipper is soaking in advice from across baseball and beyond.
How each Top 25 team wins next year's national title
Feel like celebrating next January? Here's what each of the nation's best teams needs to win it all next season.
Barnwell picks next season's 49ers: Five teams that have ingredients for a rapid rise
The Lions get back their quarterback and have to improve on defense ... right? These five teams could take huge leaps next season.
Inside the Rangers' goalie carousel: Is Lundqvist still the No. 1?
Is Henrik Lundqvist still the starter? Will Alexandar Georgiev be traded? How good is Igor Shesterkin? Our team tackles the Rangers' goalie questions.
WWE star Xavier Woods on surreal NHL All-Star experience, bar arcades, more
We check in with the superstar, who competed in the "Chel Gaming Challenge" in St. Louis.
'She was the future': WNBA stars saw themselves in Gigi Bryant's own hoop dreams
In WNBA players, Gigi Bryant saw what she hoped to be. In her, the players saw who they once were, and the future of their sport through her eyes.
Kobe, daughter Gianna die in helicopter crash
Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died Sunday in a helicopter crash in California.
UConn honors Kobe's daughter: 'Husky forever'
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were honored by the UConn women's basketball team at the start of their exhibition game Monday with flowers on the bench in tribute to "Gigi" and on social media by referring to her as "a Husky forever."
Mourning Kobe, Thunder's Paul skips Mavs game
Mourning the loss of friend and former opponent Kobe Bryant, Oklahoma City guard Chris Paul sat out Monday, when the Thunder played the Dallas Mavericks.
Superfan Nicholson will miss Kobe 'all the time'
A day after the death of Kobe Bryant, longtime Lakers fan Jack Nicholson spoke of his friend as "one of those touched people."
Coaches, club hoops players among crash victims
Christina Mauser, a mother of three who coached and taught at the Newport Beach school where Kobe and Gianna Bryant were an integral part of the community, was among the nine victims who died in Sunday's helicopter crash in Calabasas.
Lakers' next game postponed after Kobe's death
The NBA postponed the Lakers' game against the Clippers on Tuesday after the deaths of retired superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash.
Copter carrying Kobe in climb before rapid dive
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant that crashed Sunday was in a climbing turn at about 2,400 feet before it turned into a dive, NTSB officials announced Monday.
Shaken Tiger on Kobe's death: 'Shocking, tragic'
"It's one of the most shocking, tragic days that I've ever been a part of in a very quick span here,'' Tiger Woods said Sunday, reacting to the news of Kobe Bryant's death.
Qualifying for the U.S. Olympic golf team: How to do it and Tiger's chances
It's a complicated formula, one we'll be discussing until the team is set in June. So we break down who gets in, how they get in and Tiger's chances of getting in.
A year later, Amy Bockerstette has still got this
One hole with Gary Woodland made Amy Bockerstette a celebrity and forged a connection to the U.S. Open champion. But since that viral moment, Bockerstette has done so much more.
Why South Carolina's Tyasha Harris is one of the top point guards in the country
Tyasha Harris, who scored the final five points to lead South Carolina past Mississippi State in a top-10 showdown, is espnW's player of the week.
Why a boxing event could steal the spotlight in Miami this week
YouTube sensations Jake Paul and AnEsonGib jump into the boxing ring, plus three title fights on an interesting Thursday card in the Super Bowl host city.
Insiders debate the UFC's heavyweight problem, make one bold prediction
How long should the UFC wait for Stipe Miocic's next defense, and who will be the champ by year's end? Our panel weighs in.
Is Messi fed up with life at Barca?
Lionel Messi's level of play and body language suggest all is not well with him at Barcelona. What could be causing the growing rift at Camp Nou?
Who should Prem's 'Big Six' sell before January transfer deadline?
As the clock ticks down to the Premier League's Jan. 31 transfer deadline, who are the players that the "Big Six" could, or should, dump?
The huge task facing Ferrari in 2020
From the car to the team operations to driver management, ESPN looks at the areas Ferrari must improve to mount a championship challenge in 2020.
press image for big size
