Maria Sharapova and The Simpsons: Hit & Run: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox Tennis player
{{Infobox VG
| title = The Simpsons Hit & Run
| playername = Maria Yuryevna Sharapova
| image = [[Image:Simpsons hit and run PS2.jpg|256px]]
| nickname = ''Masha''
| developer = [[Radical Entertainment]]
| image = [[Image:64785279.7xFdDbri.jpg|215px]]
| publisher = [[Vivendi Universal Games]]
| country = {{RUS}}
| designer =
| residence = [[Bradenton]], [[Florida]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| engine =
| datebirth = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1987|4|19}}
| released = {{vgrelease|NA=[[September 16]] [[2003]]}}{{vgrelease|EU=[[October 24]], [[2003]]}}
| placebirth = [[Nyagan]], [[Soviet Union]]
| genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]] ([[Sandbox game#GTA clones|Sandbox]])
| height = {{height|m=1.88}}<ref name="officialsite">[http://www.mariasharapova.com Maria Sharapova official website] Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| weight = {{convert|59.1|kg|lb st|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name="officialsite"/>
| ratings = {{vgratings|ESRB=T|PEGI=7+|OFLCA=G|CERO=B}}
| turnedpro = April 19, 2001
| platforms = [[PlayStation 2]], [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]], [[Xbox]], [[Microsoft Windows]]
| retired = Active
| media =
| plays = Right-handed; two-handed backhand
| requirements =
| careerprizemoney = [[United States dollar|US$]]12,169,281
| input =
| singlesrecord = 305–70
| singlestitles = 19
| highestsinglesranking = 1 (August 22, 2005)
| AustralianOpenresult = '''W''' ([[2008 Australian Open - Women's Singles|2008]])
| FrenchOpenresult = SF ([[2007 French Open - Women's Singles|2007]])
| Wimbledonresult = '''W''' ([[2004 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|2004]])
| USOpenresult = '''W''' ([[2006 U.S. Open - Women's Singles|2006]])
| Othertournaments = Yes
| WTAChampionshipsresult = '''W''' ([[2004 WTA Tour Championships|2004]])
| doublesrecord = 23–16
| doublestitles = 3
| highestdoublesranking = 41 (June 14, 2004)
| updated = June 9, 2008
}}
}}


'''''The Simpsons Hit & Run''''' is an [[Action game|action]]-[[adventure game|adventure]] [[video game]] based on the [[animation|animated]] [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[The Simpsons]]''. ''Hit & Run'' was released on [[September 16]], [[2003 in video gaming|2003]] in the [[United States]] and [[October 24]], [[2003 in video gaming|2003]] in [[Europe]].<ref name=IGN>{{citeweb|url=http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/552/552251.html|title=The Simpsons: Hit & Run|accessdate=2007-03-30|publisher=IGN}}</ref> It was developed by [[Radical Entertainment]] and published by [[Vivendi Universal]] and was released for the [[Nintendo GameCube]], [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2]], and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] PCs.<ref name=IGN/> To make the game more involved, all dialogue and story were crafted by [[List of writers of The Simpsons|writers from ''The Simpsons'']], with all character voices supplied by the [[List of cast members of The Simpsons|actual cast]].<ref>{{cite web | date=November 9, 2001 | url= http://au.ps2.ign.com/objects/552/552251.html | title=''The Simpsons Hit and Run'' for PS2 review at IGN | work=[[IGN]] | accessmonthday= October 19 | accessyear=2007 }}</ref>
'''Maria Yuryevna Sharapova''' ({{audio-ru|Мари́я Ю́рьевна Шара́пова|Maria_sharapova.ogg}}, ''Mariya Yur’evna Sharapova''; born April 19, 1987) is a [[Russia]]n professional [[tennis]] player. A former World No. 1, she was on September 22, 2008, ranked World No. 6 by the [[Women's Tennis Association#WTA Rankings|Women's Tennis Association]]. Sharapova has won three [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles titles. In 2004, at the age of 17, she won [[2004 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]], defeating [[Serena Williams]] in the final.<ref name="wimbledon">Cheese, Caroline. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/3860923.stm Sharapova storms to Wimbledon glory], ''BBC News'', July 3, 2004. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> She has since won the [[2006 U.S. Open (tennis)|2006 US Open]], defeating [[Justine Henin]] in the final,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/5329498.stm Sharapova powers to US Open title], ''BBC News'', September 10, 2006. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> and the [[2008 Australian Open]], defeating [[Ana Ivanović]] in the final.<ref name="final">Newbery, Piers. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7209242.stm Sharapova wins Aussie Open title], ''BBC News'', January 26, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>


==Gameplay==
Sharapova has represented [[Russia Fed Cup team|Russia]] in [[Fed Cup]], although her appearances have been controversial. She has been featured in a number of [[Model (person)|modeling]] assignments, including a feature in ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. In July 2008, as a result of her success both on and off court, she was the world's highest-paid female athlete.<ref>Tom Van Riper and Kurt Badenhausen [http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/22/women-athletes-endorsements-biz-sports-cx_tvr_kb_0722athletes_slide_2.html?partner=yahoosports In Pictures: Top-Earning Female Athletes], '' [[Forbes]] ''. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> As of October 2008, she is coached by her father, Yuri Sharapov, and former player [[Michael Joyce (tennis)|Michael Joyce]].
There are seven levels in the game, each with a unique plot, though the setting for four of the levels is a previous level with somewhat altered topography. Each level has a specific character which the player controls. The five characters are [[Homer Simpson]] (played twice), [[Bart Simpson]] (played twice), [[Lisa Simpson]], [[Marge Simpson]] and [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon]].


''The Simpsons Hit & Run'' is played much like ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]'' and its successors; the game uses a [[Sandbox game|sandbox style]] format with emphasis on driving, and the player controls their character from a [[third-person shooter|third-person]] view. The player can also perform similar, albeit more benign, acts of violence or destruction. Pedestrians can be attacked, cars can be blown up, and much of the environment can be destroyed in some manner. However, pedestrians can never be killed (merely annoyed), and when other cars are destroyed, their occupants will usually make some sort of humorous retort to lighten the mood ("Spines don't bend that way", "Gee, thanks a lot Mr. Break-my-legs").
==Playing style==
Sharapova is a power baseliner, with power, depth, and angles on her groundstrokes.<ref name="profile">Jeff Cooper. [http://tennis.about.com/od/playersfemale/a/sharapovagp.htm Maria Sharapova - Tennis Game Profile], About.com. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> Instead of using a traditional [[volley (tennis)|volley]] or overhead [[Smash (tennis)|smash]], she often prefers to hit a powerful "swinging" volley when approaching the net or attacking [[Lob (tennis)|lobs]].<ref>Douglas Robson. [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/wimb/2007-06-24-volleys_N.htm Swinging, midcourt volley becomes key weapon among pros], ''USA Today'', June 25, 2007. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> Sharapova is thought to have good speed around the court, especially considering her height.<ref name="profile"/> At the beginning of the 2008 season, some observers noted that Sharapova had developed her game, showing improved movement and footwork and the addition of a [[drop shot]] and sliced backhand to her repertoire of shots.<ref>Steve Bierley. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jan/23/tennis.australianopen2008 Sharapova adds variety to end Henin run], ''The Guardian'', January 23, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>


On foot, the player character can walk, run, and performs several kinds of attacks: a normal kick, a jumping kick, or a smashing move. Buildings require the player to be on foot when entering them, and most missions must usually be started on foot. The player is incapable of dying, though there are several ways to lose coins and a generous supply of hazards that force the player to repeat certain actions if they fail to avoid them.
[[Image:Sharapova061021-01.jpg|upright|left|thumb|Sharapova playing at the [[Zurich Open]] in 2006]]


To drive, the player can either commandeer one of the many civilian vehicles that litter the road or 'call' for those they have earned using one of the numerous blue [[phone booth]]s scattered around each level. Civilian cars are typically inferior to those the player can earn. The cars earned by the player have different stats, rated by one to five: some are tougher, others are faster, and these stats are typically higher for cars earned in later levels. Cars are earned in several ways: by beating a level, completing the bonus mission in each level, completing the three races in each level, buying them from [[Gil (The Simpsons)|Gil]], or by buying a specialized car from another character. Every car can be damaged and eventually destroyed, but numerous floating wrenches in each level will automatically restore the vehicle to pristine condition. Destroyed cars can still be driven, albeit awkwardly, so the player may repair the car if they can reach a wrench. They can also be repaired for ten coins by the phone booths.
Sharapova's preferred surfaces are the fast-playing [[hard court|hard]] and [[grass court|grass]] because her game is not as well-suited to the slower-playing [[clay courts|clay]].<ref name="cow"/> She lacks confidence in her ability to move and slide on this surface<ref name="cow">Barry Flatman. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article1867693.ece Sharapova: a cow on ice?], ''The Times'', May 31, 2007. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> and once described herself as like a "cow on ice" after a match on clay.<ref name="cow"/> Her limitations on this surface are reflected in her career results, as she did not win a WTA tour title on clay until April 2008 (despite having won 18 titles on other surfaces) and because the [[French Open]] is the only [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles title she has not yet won.


Like ''Grand Theft Auto III'', ''The Simpsons Hit & Run'' has a warning meter to indicate when the police will retaliate for bad behavior. Located in the bottom-right corner of the screen, the circular 'Hit and Run' meter will fill when the player runs people over or destroys things, and likewise decrease when they cease doing so. When filled, several [[respawn]]ing police cars are summoned to chase the player down for the duration of the 'Hit and Run'. While being chased, the Hit and Run meter will deplete twice as fast, aiding in losing the police. Should the police cars manage to stay within an invisible proximity field for a certain period of time, the player will be fined fifty coins. Hitting the police cars will not increase the player's meter.
Sharapova's first and second serve are powerful.<ref name="profile"/> She is often able to produce an [[Ace (tennis)|ace]] or a [[Serve (tennis)#Serve terminology|service winner]] or provoke a weak reply from her opponent, which allows her to take control of the rally immediately. A serious shoulder injury in early 2007, however, reduced the effectiveness of her serve for several months, as she routinely produced eight to ten double faults in many of her matches during this period.<ref>[http://www.tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=108430 Tennis.com: Bottom line for the top women, 2007], Tennis.com. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> She later changed her service motion to a more compacted backswing (as opposed to her traditional elongated backswing) in an attempt to put less stress on her shoulder,<ref>Matthew Cronin. [http://www.tennisreporters.net/sharapova_080407.html Serves up: Sharapova changes motion], TennisReporters.net, August, 2007. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> but she nevertheless periodically experienced problems with her serve throughout the rest of the year, most notably producing 12 double faults in her third-round loss at the [[2007 U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]].<ref name="radwanska"/> Her serve appeared to be more effective at the 2008 [[Australian Open]], as she produced just 17 double faults in seven matches while winning the tournament.<ref>[http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/bios/stats/wta310137.html 2008 Australian Open: Maria Sharapova statistics], AustralianOpen.com. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> Her serving problems resurfaced, however, during the spring of 2008, as she produced 43 double faults in just four matches at the [[2008 French Open|French Open]]<ref>[http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/bios/stats/wta310137.html Roland Garros 2008: Maria Sharapova statistics], RolandGarros.com. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> and eight double faults during her second round loss at [[2008 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]].<ref>[http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/bios/stats/wta310137.html Wimbledon 2008: Maria Sharapova statistics], Wimbledon.org. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> Observers, including [[Tracy Austin]], believe that when Sharapova experiences problems with her serve, she often loses confidence in the rest of her game, and as a result, produces more unforced errors and generally plays more tentatively.<ref name="austin">Austin, Tracy. [http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25396610/ Austin: Sharapova loss a win for Venus and Serena], ''NBC Sports'', June 27, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>


In each level there are numerous items the player can collect. The primary item is coins, which are essential to buying new cars, which in turn are required to progress in the game. Coins can also be used to purchase costumes, some of which are also required for missions. There are also secrets the player locate, such as Wasp cameras or Itchy and Scratchy cards. By collecting all 49 of the latter, seven in each level, the player can unlock a special ''Itchy and Scratchy'' episode.
Sharapova is known for on-court "grunting",<ref name="grunting">Lane, Megan. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4118708.stm Why do women tennis stars grunt?], ''BBC News'', June 22, 2005. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> which reached a recorded 101 [[decibel]]s during a match at [[2005 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon in 2005]].<ref name="grunting"/>


==Career==
==Plot==
NOTE: The levels are individual days in October based on the various newspapers seen during the loading period for each level.
===Early life===
;Level 1-October 25
Sharapova was born in 1987 to Yuri and Elena, ethnic Russians, in the town of [[Nyagan]] in Siberia, Russia. Previously her parents had lived in Gomel, Belarus, but were compelled to move after the [[Chernobyl accident|Chernobyl nuclear accident]] in 1986.<ref name="ITH_2007_08_13">{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/13/sports/NA-SPT-TEN-Marias-Mission.php|author=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[International Herald Tribune]]|date=2007-08-13|title=Maria Sharapova plans 1st trip back to Chernobyl since family fled}}</ref> When Sharapova was two, the family moved to Sochi. There, Sharapova's father befriended Aleksandre Kafelnikov, whose son [[Yevgeny Kafelnikov|Yevgeny]] would go on to become a [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] champion. Aleksandre gave Sharapova her first tennis racket at the age of four<ref name="times">Kimmage, Paul. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article3177376.ece The Big Interview: Maria Sharapova (The Times, UK)], ''The Times'', January 13, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> and subsequently, she and her father began to practice regularly in the local park.<ref name="times"/>
The game starts with a cut scene showing a horde of robot wasps descending on [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]]. After [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] completes several tutorial missions (self-acknowledged by [[Bart Simpson|Bart]], who narrates. Throughout the level, however, he states how he is annoyed that he accepted the offer to do the tutorials.) a further cut scene shows more mysterious happenings going on around Springfield. The next few missions follow [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] exploring the strange goings on where he is led to believe [[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]] is behind everything. He denies any responsibility and fires Homer, despite being unaware of who Homer is. But if Montgomery Burns wasn't behind this, then who was?


;Level 2-October 26
Aged six, Sharapova attended a tennis clinic in Moscow run by [[Martina Navratilova]], who noted Sharapova was talented but required professional training, recommending the [[Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy]] in Florida.<ref name="times"/> Sharapova and her father, neither of whom could speak [[English language|English]], moved to Florida in 1994. Because of visa restrictions, Sharapova's mother could not originally move with them, though she eventually joined them two years later.<ref name="ITH_2007_08_13"/> Sharapova's father was forced to take various low-paid jobs to fund her lessons, including washing dishes, and, until the age of 12, she rode to the academy each day on the handlebars of Yuri's bicycle as they could not afford any other method of transport.<ref name="times"/> Sharapova developed rapidly at the academy and began playing junior tournaments.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}
Bart is next to take up the story. After completing a series of missions including evading the truancy officer ([[Principal Skinner]]) and purchasing illegal fireworks, Bart meets [[Professor Frink]], who needs Bart to find objects so he can complete his 'Truckasaurus'&nbsp;— a giant robotic dinosaur that destroys cars for the purpose of entertainment. After completion of a few further missions, a cut scene shows Bart entering the stadium which the Truckasaurus is in. A [[tractor beam]] abducts Bart from the outside of the stadium, giving the players a hint who's really behind the strange happenings in Springfield.


;Level 3-October 27
===2001–2002===
Attempting to find her brother, [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] starts exploring the town for clues. After several false leads from [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]], Lisa discovers that the black [[sedan (car)|sedans]] that have been appearing around town are connected to Bart's disappearance. After she catches some fish for [[Captain McCallister]] (The Sea Captain), he directs Lisa to a black [[limousine]] which he said he saw Bart get into. After she chases and destroys the limo, Bart is still nowhere to be found. After again talking with the captain, Lisa eventually finds Bart on a ship in Springfield harbor, although he appears to have memory loss and is mumbling unintelligibly with occasional mentioning of the sedans, and of Buzz Cola, the new and improved cola drink recently launched by [[Krusty the Clown]].
Sharapova turned professional in 2001, although she played just one tournament, on the ITF Circuit, that year.


;Level 4-October 28
The following year, Sharapova became the youngest girl to reach the final at the junior [[Australian Open]] and repeated this feat at [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] later in 2002.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} She also won three titles on the ITF Circuit and played her first matches on the main WTA Tour, including winning a match at the [[Tier I]] [[Pacific Life Open]] in [[Indian Wells, California]] before losing to [[Monica Seles]] in the second round.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}
Attempting to discover what has affected Bart, [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] investigates a [[crop circle]] that recently appeared in [[Cletus Spuckler|Cletus]]' crop field. After she helps him with his chores, Cletus gives Marge some information. In return for information regarding a different crop circle, seen a long time ago, Marge runs errands for [[Abraham Simpson|Grandpa Simpson]]. His help reveals the crop circle was an exact replica of the Buzz Cola logo, which Marge saw at the [[Kwik-E-Mart]] while running Grandpa's errands. Marge takes a can of the soda to Bart. He snaps out of his stupor and reveals it to be mind-control cola produced by aliens. Marge decides to purge Springfield of the cola but in spite of her valiant efforts, the drink still maintains popularity.


;Level 5-October 29
===2003===
Inspired by Marge's efforts, [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon]] tries to discover the source of the cola. After several missions, he decides he needs to recruit the help of a criminal to track down the owner of the cola trucks. After following [[Chief Wiggum]], he tracks down [[Snake Jailbird|Snake]]. Snake initially tries to mug Apu, but agrees to give him information if Apu helps him with his 'community service', which turns out to include destroying an [[Armored car (valuables)|armoured truck]]. Afterwards, Snake reveals that the cola trucks are registered to the Springfield Museum of Natural History. Apu finds Bart, and together they destroy the curators' car to get in. Inside the museum, they find a meteor to be the source of the cola. They eavesdrop on a conversation between [[Kang and Kodos]], who are masterminding the scheme. They learn that the wasp cameras are filming the antics of Springfield for an alien reality show, ''Foolish Earthlings''. Attempting to boost ratings, the aliens are using the cola to make people go crazy by which time they will have distributed laser guns, driving the town to a violent massacre sure to draw many viewers.
====Summary of year====
Sharapova started playing tour events full-time in 2003. She finished the year ranked World No. 32 and was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year.


;Level 6-October 30
====Year in-depth====
Apu, being frightened of the aliens, refuses to help any further. Bart takes it upon himself to foil Kang and Kodos' plan. He proceeds toward the Krusty Lu Studios where he asks Krusty to help him stop production of the laser guns. Krusty does not believe Bart's story, however, so Bart brings him an actual gun. Krusty latterly informs Bart that he has already assisted the [[Duff Brewery]] to set up free laser gun stands all around town, so Bart sets out and destroys them all before people can collect their guns. Bart goes to Homer for help, who is outraged that Duff would ever commit such a crime. The duo quickly pursues Kang and Kodos to the brewery, but they escape. Before departing, the aliens reveal that the lasers were merely the beginning, and that they have already released Buzz Cola throughout Springfield's water supply. The Cola that is seeping into the ground releases the [[zombie|un-dead]] from the [[Springfield Cemetery]], who rise up and begin to invade the town.
Sharapova won three qualifying matches at both the [[2003 Australian Open|Australian Open]] and the [[2003 French Open|French Open]] to reach the main draw, although she subsequently lost in the first round in both events.<ref name="2003activity">[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp?PlayerID=310137 Maria Sharapova Playing Activity] (2003 results can be accessed by selecting the year from the menu), WTA Tour official website. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>


;Level 7-October 31
At the [[grass court]] tournament in [[DFS Classic|Birmingham, United Kingdom]], she reached the semifinals of a main tour event for the first time,<ref name="sharapovawinstokyo">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/3165246.stm Sharapova wins Tokyo], BBC News, October 2004. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> defeating top seed and World No. 15 [[Elena Dementieva]] en route for her first win over a Top 20 player.<ref name="wtacareer">[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerBio2.asp?PlayerID=310137 WTA: Career Highlights], WTA Tour official website. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> She was consequently awarded a [[Wild card (sports)#Professional Tennis|wildcard]] into the main draw at [[2003 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]], defeating the 11th seed and the 21st seed en route to the fourth round, where she lost to compatriot [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]].<ref name="2003activity"/> After losing in the second round of the [[2003 U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]] to [[Émilie Loit]],<ref name="2003activity"/> Sharapova won her first title at the Tier III tournament in [[Japan Open Tennis Championships|Tokyo]] in October<ref name="2003activity"/> and then won another Tier III tournament four weeks later in [[Bell Challenge|Quebec City]].<ref name="2003activity"/>
The final level is designed to be as spooky as possible and is based around the [[Treehouse of Horror (series)|''Treehouse of Horror'' episodes]]. It is Homer's turn again, and his first mission is to collect supplies to protect his family and home from the marauding zombies. After talking to [[Comic Book Guy]], Homer pursues a further black sedan to the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant|nuclear plant]] as he says it belongs to the aliens. Homer meets with Professor Frink, who has discovered the aliens' weakness: [[nuclear waste]]. He plans to use the ship's tractor beam to suck up cars that are loaded with drums of nuclear waste. After successfully loading Professor Frink's car into the aliens' tractor beam, Homer discovers he needs even more waste, so he decides to track down Mr. Burns. Burns gives him a map detailing the locations of [[nuclear waste]] throughout the town, though each time Homer visits the exact same spot to retrieve further barrels. After he loads three more cars into the ship it explodes and crashes into the school. The next day, Springfield is back to normal as Kang and Kodos watch down from [[heaven]], only too pleased that their show was a success but annoyed that they have to watch the end credits.


==Characters and Cars==
===2004===
Level 1- [[Family Sedan]]([[Homer]])
[[Image:Maria Sharapova Wimbledon 2004.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Sharapova at [[2004 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] in 2004]]


Level 2- [[Honor Roller]]([[Bart]])
====Summary of year====
Sharapova finished 2004 ranked World No. 4 and was the second-ranked Russian (behind [[Anastasia Myskina]]). She won her first [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] title, at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]. Her five titles during the year trailed only [[Lindsay Davenport|Lindsay Davenport's]] seven and equalled [[Justine Henin|Justine Henin's]] total. Sharapova also topped the prize winnings list for the year.


Level 3- [[Malibu Stacey Car]]([[Lisa]])
====Year in-depth====
Sharapova started the year by reaching the third round of the [[2004 Australian Open|Australian Open]], where she lost to seventh-seeded [[Anastasia Myskina]] 6–4, 1–6, 6–2.<ref name="2004activity">[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp?PlayerID=310137 Maria Sharapova Playing Activity] (2004 results can be accessed by selecting the year from the menu), WTA Tour official website. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> The week after the Australian Open, Sharapova lost in the second round of the [[Tier I]] [[Toray Pan Pacific Open]] in [[Tokyo]].<ref name="2004activity"/> She then played in three [[hard court]] tournaments, losing in the semifinals in [[Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Cellular South Cup|Memphis, Tennessee]],<ref name="2004activity"/> the fourth round of the Tier I [[Pacific Life Open]] in [[Indian Wells, California]],<ref name="2004activity"/> and the fourth round of the Tier I [[Sony Ericsson Open]] in [[Key Biscayne, Florida]].<ref name="2004activity"/>


Level 4- [[Canyenero]]([[Marge]])
During the spring [[clay court]] season leading up to the [[2004 French Open|French Open]], Sharapova lost in the third round at both the [[Qatar Telecom German Open]] in [[Berlin]]<ref name="2004activity"/> and the [[Internazionali BNL d'Italia]] in [[Rome]],<ref name="2004activity"/> which were both Tier I events. At the French Open itself, Sharapova reached the quarterfinals<ref name="2004activity"/> of a [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles tournament for the first time in her career, losing to [[Paola Suárez]] 6–1, 6–3.


Level 5- [[Longhorn]]([[Apu]])
On [[grass court|grass]] leading up to Wimbledon, Sharapova won the tournament in [[DFS Classic|Birmingham, United Kingdom]], defeating [[Tatiana Golovin]] in the final.<ref name="2004activity"/> This was Sharapova's third career title. The 17-year-old Sharapova went into [[2004 Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] as the 13th seed.<ref name="2004activity"/> In her second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, she defeated [[Ai Sugiyama]] 5–7, 7–5, 6–1 and then upset fifth-seeded and former World No. 1 [[Lindsay Davenport]] in the semifinals 2–6, 7–6, 6–1.<ref name="2004activity"/> Her opponent in the final was two-time defending champion [[Serena Williams]], with Williams an overwhelming favorite based on her higher seeding and greater experience. Sharapova, however, defeated Williams 6–1, 6–4,<ref name="2004activity"/> becoming the third-youngest Wimbledon women's champion (after [[Lottie Dod]] and [[Martina Hingis]]).<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2004/jun/30/wimbledon2004.wimbledon1|title=Sharapova sharpens her steel|publisher=''[[The Guardian]]''|author=Richard Williams|date=2004-06-30|accessdate=2008-10-06}}</ref> She was the first Russian to win the tournament{{Fact|date=October 2008}} and was, at the time, the lowest seed to win the women's event.<ref>{{citebook|author=Jacqueline Edmondson|title=Venus and Serena Williams|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|date=2005-07-30|isbn=0313331650|chapter=1: Knowing the Possibilities of Life|page=2}} Link: [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eKK771yLaHkC&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=&source=web&ots=W7THQdww5y&sig=0NcxXY7meRW1VwTQPp4bH25eufY&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPR14,M1]</ref> This win earned Sharapova a top 10 ranking for the first time.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}


Level 6- [[Ferrini]]([[Bart]])
During the North American summer hard court season leading up to the [[U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]], Sharapova played three tournaments. She lost in the quarterfinals of the Tier I [[Acura Classic]] in [[San Diego]],<ref name="2004activity"/> the third round of the Tier I [[Rogers Cup (tennis)|Rogers Cup]] in [[Montreal]],<ref name="2004activity"/> and the second round of the Tier II tournament in [[Pilot Pen Tennis|New Haven, Connecticut]].<ref name="2004activity"/> At the [[2004 U.S. Open|US Open]] itself, Sharapova lost to French player and two-time Grand Slam singles champion [[Mary Pierce]] in the third round 4–6, 6–2, 6–3.<ref name="2004activity"/>


Level 7- [[70's Sports Car]]([[Homer]])
Sharapova then played three tournaments in Asia and one in Europe. She lost to [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]] in the semifinals in [[China Open (tennis)|Beijing]].<ref name="2004activity"/> During the next two weeks, Sharapova won the Tier IV tournament in [[Hansol Korea Open Tennis Championships|Seoul, South Korea]]<ref name="2004activity"/> and successfully defended her [[Japan Open Tennis Championships]] title in [[Tokyo]].<ref name="2004activity"/> Sharapova reached her first Tier I final at the [[Zurich Open]], losing to [[Alicia Molik]] 4–6, 6–2, 6–3.<ref name="2004activity"/>


==Reviews==
At the Tier II tournament in [[Advanta Championships Philadelphia|Philadelphia]], Sharapova reached the semifinals before defaulting her match to [[Amélie Mauresmo]].<ref name="2004activity"/> Sharapova then ended the year by winning the [[WTA Tour Championships]]. She defeated an injured Serena Williams in the final 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 after being down 4–0 in the final set.<ref name="2004activity"/>
The game received mostly positive reviews, with many considering it the best ''Simpsons'' game to-date.


*[[GameSpot]] {{rating|8.3|10}} [http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/driving/simpsonshitandrun/review.html link]
===2005===
*[[IGN]] {{rating|8.0|10}} [http://xbox.ign.com/articles/450/450120p1.html link]
[[Image:Maria Sharapova Indian Wells 2005.jpg|230px|right|thumb|Sharapova at [[Indian Wells Masters|Indian Wells]] in 2005]]
*[[Gamespy]] {{rating|4|5}} [http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/the-simpsons-hit-run/6208p1.html link]

*[[Game Informer]] {{rating|8.5|10}}
====Summary of year====
*[[GMR Magazine]] {{rating|8|10}}
Sharapova finished 2005 ranked World No. 4 again but was the top-ranked Russian for the first time. She won three titles during the year and was the only player in 2005 to reach three [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] semifinals.
*Maxxz, Inc {{rating|4.5|5}}

====Year in-depth====
Sharapova started the year by reaching the semifinals of the [[2005 Australian Open|Australian Open]], where she held three match points before losing to eventual champion [[Serena Williams]] 2–6, 7–5, 8–6.<ref name="2005activity">[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp?PlayerID=310137 Maria Sharapova Playing Activity] (2005 results can be accessed by selecting the year from the menu), WTA Tour official website. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> In February at the [[Toray Pan Pacific Open]] in [[Tokyo]], Sharapova won her first [[Tier I]] event, defeating top ranked [[Lindsay Davenport]] in the final.<ref name="2005activity"/> Three weeks later, she won the tournament in [[Qatar Total Open|Doha, Qatar]], defeating [[Alicia Molik]] in the final.<ref name="2005activity"/> She then reached the semifinals of the Tier I [[Pacific Life Open]] in [[Indian Wells, California]] where she lost to World No. 1 Davenport 6–0, 6–0.<ref name="2005activity"/> <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4363185.stm Sharapova humiliated by Davenport]</ref> To complete the spring [[hard court]] season, Sharapova reached the final of the Tier I [[Sony Ericsson Open]] in [[Key Biscayne, Florida]], where she lost to [[Kim Clijsters]].<ref name="2005activity"/>

Sharapova participated in two of the [[clay court]] tune-ups for the [[French Open]]. She lost in the quarterfinals of the Tier I [[Qatar Telecom German Open]] in [[Berlin]] to [[Justine Henin]]<ref name="2005activity"/> and the semifinals of the Tier I [[Internazionali BNL d'Italia]] in [[Rome]] to [[Patty Schnyder]].<ref name="2005activity"/> At the [[2005 French Open|French Open]], Sharapova lost in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, falling to Henin, the eventual champion.<ref name="2005activity"/>

On [[grass court|grass]], Sharapova successfully defended her title in [[DFS Classic|Birmingham, United Kingdom]], defeating [[Jelena Janković]] in the final to extend her winning streak on grass to 19 matches. But her winning streak ended at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]].<ref name="2005activity"/> Although she reached the semifinals there without losing a set, she lost in that round to [[Venus Williams]], the eventual champion, 7–6, 6–1.<ref name="2005activity"/>

World No. 1 Davenport injured her back during the Wimbledon final, which prevented her from defending the ranking points she obtained during the [[U.S. Open Series|2004 U.S. hard-court season]].{{Fact|date=October 2008}} Although Sharapova also played very few tournaments in this time because of injury, she had fewer points to defend than Davenport and therefore rose to the World No. 1 ranking on August 22, 2005. She was the first Russian woman to hold the position.<ref name="wtacareer"/> Her reign lasted only one week, however, as Davenport reclaimed the top ranking after winning the tournament in [[Pilot Pen Tennis|New Haven, Connecticut]].<ref name="wtacareer"/>

At the [[2005 U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]], Sharapova was the top-seeded player but lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Clijsters 6–2, 6–7(4), 6–3. Sharapova was down 5–2 in the second set and was one game away from defeat but fought back to claim the set. Sharapova saved five match points before Clijsters won the match on the sixth match point. Nevertheless, the points she accumulated at the US Open meant that she once again leapfrogged Davenport to take the World No. 1 ranking on September 12, 2005, retaining it for six weeks before relinquishing it again to Davenport following the [[Zurich Open]].<ref name="wtacareer"/> To conclude the year, Sharapova failed to defend her title at the season-ending [[Sony Ericsson Championships]], losing in the semifinals to eventual champion [[Amélie Mauresmo]].<ref name="2005activity"/>

===2006===
[[Image:MariaSharapova.JPG|upright|left|thumb|Sharapova after winning the [[2006 US Open (tennis)|2006 US Open]]]]

====Summary of year====
Sharapova finished 2006 ranked World No. 2 and, for the second year, as the top Russian player. She won the [[U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]] and three [[Tier I]] titles, more than any other player. Her total of five titles was second only to [[Justine Henin|Justine Henin's]] six.

====Year in-depth====
At the [[2006 Australian Open|Australian Open]], Sharapova lost in the semifinals to Henin 4–6, 6–1, 6–4, the only match of the year that Sharapova lost after winning the first set.<ref name="2006activity">[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp?PlayerID=310137 Maria Sharapova Playing Activity] (2006 results can be accessed by selecting the year from the menu), WTA Tour official website. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> When questioned by the media about her on-court grunting at the Australian Open, Sharapova said, "I know this is your job. But take your notepads, take your pencils down, take your grunt-o-meters down, the fashion police, put it all away and just watch the match."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4649550.stm Beaten Sharapova turns on media], ''BBC News'', January 26, 2006. Accessed June 2, 2008.</ref>

Three weeks later, Sharapova lost to Henin again in the final of the tournament in [[Dubai Tennis Championships|Dubai]].<ref name="2006activity"/>

Sharapova claimed her first title of 2006 and eleventh of her career at the Tier I [[Pacific Life Open]] in [[Indian Wells, California]], defeating [[Elena Dementieva]] in the final.<ref name="2006activity"/> Sharapova then lost to [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]] in the final of the Tier I [[Sony Ericsson Open]] in [[Key Biscayne, Florida]].<ref name="2006activity"/> Sharapova participated at the [[2006 French Open|French Open]] without having played any of the [[clay court]] tune-ups because of injury.<ref name="2006activity"/> After saving three match points in the first round against [[Mashona Washington]], Sharapova was eliminated in the fourth round by [[Dinara Safina]] 7–5, 2–6, 7–5,<ref name="2006activity"/> after Sharapova led 5–1 in the third set before losing 18 of the match's last 21 points.

Sharapova then started the [[grass court]] season in [[DFS Classic|Birmingham, United Kingdom]] but was unsuccessful in her attempt to win this tournament for the third consecutive year, losing in the semifinals to American [[Jamea Jackson]].<ref name="2006activity"/> At [[2006 Wimbledon|Wimbledon]], Sharapova was defeated in the semifinals for the second consecutive year, losing to eventual champion and World No. 1 [[Amélie Mauresmo]] 6–3, 3–6, 6–2.<ref name="2006activity"/>

Sharapova claimed her second title of the year at the Tier I [[Acura Classic]] in [[San Diego]], defeating top-seeded [[Kim Clijsters]],<ref name="2006activity"/> which was her first victory over the Belgian. She then played the tournament in [[JPMorgan Chase Open|Los Angeles]], losing to Dementieva in the semifinals.<ref name="2006activity"/> This was Sharapova's only summer hardcourt loss of the year.<ref name="2006activity"/> As the third seed at the [[2006 U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]], Sharapova reached the semifinals without losing a set.<ref name="2006activity"/> She then defeated World No. 1 Mauresmo in the semifinals 6–0, 4–6, 6–0<ref name="2006activity"/> and World No. 2 Henin in the final<ref name="2006activity"/> to win her second Grand Slam singles title. Sharapova lost only one set during this tournament.<ref name="2006activity"/> When asked at the press conference after the final about her father's illegal signaling and feeding her during the match, Sharapova said, "I believe, at the end of the day, personally, my life is not about a banana."<ref name="heraldtribune">Robbins, Liz. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/10/sports/open.php Tennis: At last, Sharapova proves it - she's not a 1-hit wonder], ''International Herald Tribune'', September 12, 2006. Accessed June 2, 2008.</ref>

That autumn, Sharapova won two tournaments in consecutive weeks. At the Tier I [[Zurich Open]], Sharapova defeated [[Daniela Hantuchová]] in the final.<ref name="2006activity"/> At the tournament in [[Generali Ladies Linz|Linz, Austria]], Sharapova beat fellow Russian and defending champion [[Nadia Petrova]]<ref name="2006activity"/> to take her fifth title of 2006 and the 15th title of her career.

To end the year, Sharapova won all three of her round-robin matches at the [[2006 WTA Tour Championships|Sony Ericsson Championships]],<ref name="2006activity"/> extending her winning streak to 19 matches. She lost, however, to eventual champion Henin in the semifinals.<ref name="2006activity"/> Sharapova would have finished the year as World No. 1 had she won the tournament.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6139304.stm Henin & Mauresmo in Madrid final], BBC News. Accessed August 11, 2008.</ref>

===2007===
[[Image:Maria Sharapova 2007 Australian Open.jpg|upright|thumb|Sharapova at the [[2007 Australian Open]]]]

====Summary of year====
Sharapova ended 2007 ranked World No. 5, the fourth consecutive year that she finished in the top five. However, for the first time since 2004, she did not finish the year as the top ranked Russian (the honor instead being held by [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]]). Sharapova also won just one title, the first time she had failed to win at least two titles since 2002 (when she played just three [[WTA]] matches).<ref name="wtacareer"/>

====Year in depth====
Sharapova was the top seed at the [[2007 Australian Open|Australian Open]] because of World No. 1 [[Justine Henin]]'s withdrawal. Sharapova defeated the 62nd-ranked [[Camille Pin]] in the first round 6–3, 4–6, 9–7<ref name="2007activity">[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp?PlayerID=310137 Maria Sharapova Playing Activity] (2007 results can be accessed by selecting the year from the menu), WTA Tour official website. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> on her fourth match point in air temperatures that exceeded 40&nbsp;°C (104&nbsp;°F) and on-court temperatures that exceeded 50&nbsp;°C (122&nbsp;°F).{{Fact|date=October 2008}} In the semifinals, Sharapova defeated fourth-seeded [[Kim Clijsters]]<ref name="2007activity"/> to reach her first Australian Open final and gain the opportunity to win the only [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles title that a Russian woman had not yet won. However, [[Serena Williams]], ranked World No. 81, overpowered Sharapova in the final.<ref name="2007activity"/> Reaching the final meant Sharapova recaptured the World No. 1 ranking.<ref name="wtacareer"/>

Partly because of hamstring and shoulder injuries that reduced the effectiveness of her serve, Sharapova did not win any of her next three tournaments. At the [[Tier I]] [[Toray Pan Pacific Open]] in [[Tokyo]], Sharapova retired from her semifinal match with [[Ana Ivanović]].<ref name="2007activity"/> At the Tier I [[Pacific Life Open]] in [[Indian Wells, California]], Sharapova lost in the fourth round<ref name="2007activity"/> and consequently lost the World No. 1 ranking. In the fourth round of the Tier I [[Sony Ericsson Open]] in [[Key Biscayne, Florida]], Sharapova lost to Serena Williams for the second consecutive time 6–1, 6–1.<ref name="2007activity"/>

A shoulder injury forced Sharapova to miss most of the [[clay court]] season for the second consecutive year. Her only tune-up for the [[2007 French Open|French Open]] was the tournament in [[Istanbul Cup|Istanbul]], where she lost to Frenchwoman [[Aravane Rezaï]] in the semifinals.<ref name="2007activity"/> She then reached the semifinals of the [[French Open]] for the first time in her career (saving a match point against [[Patty Schnyder]] in the fourth round) but fell to Ivanovic 6–2, 6–1.<ref name="2007activity"/>

On [[grass court|grass]], Sharapova lost in the final of the tournament in [[DFS Classic|Birmingham, United Kingdom]] to second seeded [[Jelena Janković]].<ref name="2007activity"/> At [[2007 Wimbledon|Wimbledon]], Sharapova lost to eventual champion [[Venus Williams]] in the fourth round 6–1, 6–3.<ref name="2007activity"/>

Sharapova's first summer hardcourt tournament was the Tier I [[Acura Classic]] in [[San Diego, California]], where she won her first title of the year, fifth Tier I career title, and 16th singles title of her career by defeating Schnyder in the final.<ref name="2007activity"/> At the tournament in [[JPMorgan Chase Open|Los Angeles]] the next week, a shin injury forced her to withdraw from her semifinal match with fellow Russian [[Nadia Petrova]] shortly before the match started. Nevertheless, she clinched the [[US Open Series]] for the first time.<ref name="wtacareer"/>

Seeded second at the [[2007 U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]], Sharapova won her first two matches with the loss of only two games<ref name="2007activity"/> but then lost her third round match to 18-year-old Pole [[Agnieszka Radwańska]] 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, after having committed 12 double faults and 49 unforced errors.<ref name="radwanska">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6974187.stm Sharapova loses to teen Radwanska], BBC News, September 1, 2007. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> It was Sharapova's earliest exit at a Grand Slam singles tournament since she lost in the same round at the [[2004 U.S. Open (tennis)|2004 US Open]].<ref name="wtacareer"/> Writing in her blog following her third-round loss at the US Open, Sharapova said, "I know it's as tough for my fans to handle my losses as it is for me. But let me point something out. I didn't leave my mom at the age of seven for nothing. I didn't spend six hours a day practicing in the Florida sun at the age of nine for nothing.... I didn't sleep in little cots for three years, eating oatmeal out of a packet while playing in the middle of nowhere for nothing. All this has helped me build character and there's no better asset than being able to stand up for yourself."<ref name="times"/>

Sharapova did not play again until the Tier I [[Kremlin Cup]] in Moscow in October, where she lost to [[Victoria Azarenka]] of Belarus in the second round (after a first-round bye).<ref name="2007activity"/> The recurring shoulder problem then forced Sharapova to withdraw from events in [[Zurich Open|Zurich]] and [[Generali Ladies Linz|Linz, Austria]],<ref name="2007activity"/> at both of which she was the defending champion. The early loss and the withdrawals caused Sharapova to fall out of the top five in the rankings for the first time in three years.<ref name="wtacareer"/>

Sharapova qualified for the year-ending [[2007 WTA Tour Championships|Sony Ericsson Championships]] only because Venus Williams withdrew from the tournament.<ref name="wtacareer"/> In her Red Group round-robin matches, Sharapova beat World No. 9 [[Daniela Hantuchová]], World No. 2 Kuznetsova, and World No. 4 Ivanović.<ref name="2007activity"/> Sharapova then defeated the runner-up of the Yellow Group, World No. 7 [[Anna Chakvetadze]], in the semifinals 6–2, 6–2.<ref name="2007activity"/> In the final, Sharapova lost to World No. 1 Henin 5–7, 7–5, 6–3 in 3 hours and 24 minutes. This was the 12th longest women's tour match during the [[open era]].<ref name="heninsharapova">[http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080121/SPORTS/801210464/0/NEWS12 Henin, Sharapova eye quarters], Herald Tribune. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>

===2008===
[[Image:Maria s tennis pro.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Sharapova playing at the [[Indian Wells Masters|Pacific Life Open]] in 2008]]

====Summary of year====
As of September 30, 2008, Sharapova during 2008 has won three titles, is undefeated in tournament finals, and has a win-loss record of 32–4.

====Year in-depth====
Sharapova was the fifth-seeded player at the [[2008 Australian Open|Australian Open]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/26/sports/tennis/26women.html With Third Title, Sharapova Shows She’s Back]</ref> She defeated former World No. 1 [[Lindsay Davenport]] in the second round<ref name="2008activity">[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp?PlayerID=310137 Maria Sharapova Playing Activity], WTA Tour official website. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> and World No. 1 [[Justine Henin]] in the quarterfinals 6–4, 6–0,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7201953.stm Brilliant Sharapova hammers Henin]</ref> ending the latter's 32-match winning streak.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/sports/tennis/24tennis.html?fta=y Sharapova Reaches the Final Again and Hopes for a Better Outcome ]</ref> Sharapova then reached her second consecutive [[Australian Open]] final when she defeated an injured<ref>[http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24012008/3/red-hot-sharapova-downs-jankovic-australian-open-tennis-final.html Red-hot Sharapova downs Jankovic to make Australian Open tennis final]</ref> [[Jelena Janković]] in the semifinals.<ref name="2008activity"/> Dropping only 10 service points during the final,<ref>[http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/stats/day18/2701ms.html Australian Open Match Statistics]</ref> Sharapova defeated [[Ana Ivanović]] and won this tournament without losing a set.<ref name="2008activity"/>

After the Australian Open, Sharapova extended her winning streak to 18 matches before finally losing.<ref name="2008activity"/> She participated for the first time<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/tennis/sharapova-set-to-make-fed-cup-debut/2008/01/22/1200764265448.html Sharapova set to make Fed Cup debut]</ref> in [[Fed Cup]] against [[Israel Fed Cup team|Israel]]<ref name="2008activity"/> and won the [[Tier I]] [[Qatar Total Open]] in [[Doha]].<ref name="2008activity"/> In the semifinals of the Tier I [[Pacific Life Open]] in [[Indian Wells, California]], Sharapova lost to [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]], which was her first loss of the year.<ref name="2008activity"/> Sharapova then withdrew from the Tier I [[Sony Ericsson Open]] in [[Key Biscayne, Florida]], citing a shoulder injury.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSL2200285520080322 Sharapova withdraws from Miami event with shoulder injury]</ref>

She was the top-seeded player at the Tier II [[clay court]] tournament in [[Bausch & Lomb Championships|Amelia Island, Florida]].<ref name="2008activity"/> Her 3 hour, 26 minute<ref>[http://www.blchamps.com/pages/comp/stats/2008/WS301.html Match Statistics]</ref> third round victory was her longest ever match.<ref name="epicbattle">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7341970.stm Sharapova wins epic battle], BBC News. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> The next day,<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_TENNIS/idUKSP21832920080411 Tennis-Top seed Sharapova advances to Amelia Island semi-finals]</ref> she needed an additional 2 hours, 36 minutes to win her quarterfinal match.<ref>[http://www.blchamps.com/pages/comp/stats/2008/WS401.html Match Statistics]</ref> Sharapova then received a walkover to the final after Davenport withdrew from the tournament.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2008-04-13-1003384053_x.htm Sharapova beats Cibulkova at Amelia Island, wins 1st clay-court title]</ref> In her first career clay court final,<ref>[http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11042008/58/wta-tour-sharapova-amelia-island-semis.html WTA Tour - Sharapova into Amelia Island semis]</ref> Sharapova defeated [[Dominika Cibulková]].<ref name="2008activity"/>

The following week at the Tier I [[Family Circle Cup]] in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], Sharapova lost to [[Serena Williams]] in the quarterfinals 7–5, 4–6, 6–1.<ref name="2008activity"/> Sharapova had a set point at 5-4 in the first set<ref>[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2202 Lucky No.13 For Serena in Charleston]</ref> and claimed the second set but then won only nine points in the final set.<ref>[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2202 Lucky No.13 For Serena in Charleston]</ref> This was Sharapova's fourth consecutive loss to Williams.<ref>[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/playerheadtoheaddetail.asp?PlayerID=310137&x=9&y=13&Player1ID=230234 Career matches involving Sharapova and Serena Williams]</ref> Sharapova was the second-seeded player at the Tier I [[Internazionali BNL d'Italia]],<ref name="2008activity"/> formerly known as the Italian Open, in [[Rome]]. She defeated [[Patty Schnyder]] in the quarterfinals but then did not play her semifinal against Janković<ref name="2008activity"/> because of a calf injury.<ref>[http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=5024518 Casualty City: Sharapova Pulls Out Of Rome, Jankovic Vs. Cornet In Final]</ref> Sharapova nevertheless regained the World No. 1 ranking because of Henin's sudden retirement from professional tennis and request to the [[Women's Tennis Association]] that her own ranking be removed immediately.<ref>[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2258 Sharapova To Take Over No.1 Ranking]</ref>

Sharapova was the top-seeded player at the [[French Open]]<ref name="2008activity"/> and defeated compatriot [[Evgeniya Rodina]] in the first round 6–1, 3–6, 8–6<ref name="2008activity"/> after being two points<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/french08/news/story?id=3415126 Sharapova needs 8-6 win in third set to overcome Rodina]</ref> from becoming the first female top seeded player in the [[open era]] to lose in the first round of this tournament.<ref>[http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/8184486/Sharapova-a-long-way-from-Grand-Slam-form Sharapova a long way from Grand Slam form]</ref> Sharapova ultimately lost to 13th-seeded and eventual runner-up [[Dinara Safina]]<ref name="2008activity"/> in a 2 hour, 52 minute<ref>[http://2008.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/stats/day14/2113ms.html Match Statistics]</ref> fourth round match 6–7(6), 7–6(5), 6–2. Sharapova saved two set points in the first set tiebreaker before winning the last four points to take the set<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jun/02/frenchopen.tennis.sharapova?gusrc=rss&feed=sport French Open: Sharapova screeches to a halt at hands of compatriot Safina]</ref> and then had a match point at 5–3 in the second set and led 5–2 in the second set tiebreaker before losing the last five points of the set.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/sports/tennis/03tennis.html Sharapova Roars, but She Is Silenced by Safina Once Again]</ref> Safina won the last four games and ten of the last twelve points of the match.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/french08/news/story?id=3421942 Safina ousts No. 1 Sharapova, advances to quarterfinals]</ref> Sharapova lost the match despite hitting 65 winners and only 39 unforced errors.<ref>[http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/stats/day14/2113ms.html Match Statistics]</ref> She relinquished the World No. 1 ranking as a result of this loss.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=3424588 Sharapova to drop from top spot after French Open]</ref>

Sharapova withdrew from the [[grass court]] tournament in [[DFS Classic|Birmingham, United Kingdom]] because of a shoulder injury sustained during the French Open.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7441866.stm Jankovic pulls out of Birmingham]</ref> At [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]], Sharapova was seeded third but lost in the second round to compatriot and World No. 159 [[Alla Kudryavtseva]] 6–2, 6–4.<ref name="2008activity"/> This was her earliest loss ever at Wimbledon.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon08/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=3462202 Sharapova loss just the start of a chaotic day at Wimbledon]</ref>

At the Tier I [[Rogers Cup (tennis)|Rogers Cup]] in [[Montreal]], Sharapova had the chance to regain the World No. 1 ranking. In a second round match that lasted 2 hours, 55 minutes, she defeated [[Marta Domachowska]] of Poland 7–5, 5–7, 6–2.<ref>[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2481 Ivanovic Gets Past Kvitova; Dubois Edges Kirilenko]</ref> Sharapova committed 17 double faults during the match and twice needed treatment for her right shoulder. She then withdrew from the tournament to prevent the injury from becoming worse.<ref>[http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31072008/58/wta-tour-ivanovic-sharapova.html WTA Tour - Ivanovic through, Sharapova out]</ref> Shortly afterwards, a [[magnetic resonance imaging]] scan revealed that Sharapova had been suffering from a torn [[rotator cuff]] since April. This injury prevented Sharapova from playing again in 2008, missing both the [[Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympics]] and the [[2008 US Open|US Open]]. On September 26, she announced on her website that she will be taking the rest of the year off, thus missing the year-ending [[2008 WTA Tour Championships|Sony Ericsson Championships]].{{Fact|date=October 2008}}

===2009===
Sharapova will return at the 2009 World Team Challenge in [[Hong Kong]] on [[January 7]]

==Fed Cup participation==
[[Image:Sharapova hitting backhand.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Sharapova playing for the [[Russia Fed Cup team|Russian]] [[Fed Cup]] team against [[Israel Fed Cup team|Israel]] in 2008]]

Sharapova's representation of [[Russia Fed Cup team|Russia]] in the [[Fed Cup]] has been controversial. At the end of 2004, compatriot [[Anastasia Myskina]] stated she would stop playing for Russia if Sharapova joined.<ref name="myskina">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4040243.stm Myskina stands by Fed Cup threat], BBC News, November 2004. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> Nevertheless, at the end of 2005, Sharapova stated she was now keen to make her Fed Cup debut<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4326784.stm Sharapova keen to play for Russia], BBC News. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> and was set to play against Belgium in April 2006, but withdrew.<ref name="sharapovadelays">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4788132.stm Sharapova delays debut for Russia], BBC News. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>

Sharapova later withdrew from ties against Spain in April 2007<ref name="missfedcup">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6520271.stm Sharapova to miss Fed Cup debut], BBC News. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> and against the United States in July 2007<ref name="pulloutangers">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6288526.stm Sharapova pull-out angers Russia], BBC News. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> because of injuries. The latter withdrawal led to Russia's captain saying she would be "ineligible for selection" for the Fed Cup final in September.<ref name="forfedcup">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6904802.stm Russia drop Sharapova for Fed Cup], BBC News. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> However, Sharapova attended the final, cheering from the sidelines and acting as a "hitting partner" in practices, resulting in some of her Russian teammates implying that she was attending only to enable her to play at the [[Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]] (rules state that players must have "shown commitment" to Fed Cup in order to play). [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]] said, "She said she wanted to be our practise partner but if you can't play how then can you practise?"<ref name="rowover">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6999113.stm Row over Sharapova's Fed Cup show], BBC News. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>

Sharapova finally made her Fed Cup debut in February 2008, in Russia's quarterfinal tie against [[Israel Fed Cup team|Israel]]. Sharapova won both her singles rubbers, against [[Tzipora Obziler]] and [[Shahar Pe'er]], helping Russia to a 4–1 victory. Sharapova, however, did not play in Russia's Fed Cup semifinal or final later that year.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}

==Record against other top players==
As of May 19, 2008, Sharapova's win-loss record against certain players who have been ranked World No. 5 or higher is as follows:<ref name="wtatour">[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players Player Profiles], WTA Tour official website. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>
{{div col|cols=4}}
* [[Elena Dementieva]] 8–2
* [[Daniela Hantuchová]] 7–1
* [[Anna Chakvetadze]] 6–0
* [[Lindsay Davenport]] 5–1
* [[Nadia Petrova]] 5–1
* [[Jelena Janković]] 4–1
* [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]] 4–4
* [[Mary Pierce]] 3–1
* [[Ana Ivanović]] 3–2
* [[Venus Williams]] 3–2
* [[Dinara Safina]] 3–3
* [[Kim Clijsters]] 3–4
* [[Justine Henin]] 3–6
* [[Martina Hingis]] 2–1
* [[Anastasia Myskina]] 2–3
* [[Serena Williams]] 2–5
* [[Jelena Dokić]] 1–0
* [[Amélie Mauresmo]] 1–3
* [[Jennifer Capriati]] 0–1
* [[Monica Seles]] 0–1
{{div col end}}

==Off-court==
Sharapova has lived in the United States since moving there at the age of seven but retains her Russian citizenship to this day.<ref name="pravda">[http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/361/16286_Sharapova.html Maria Sharapova unwilling to trade her Russian citizenship for anything], Pravda.ru, October 2005. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> She has a home in [[Manhattan Beach, California]]<ref name="peoplemagazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,1183711,00.html|title=Celebrity Q & A - Maria Sharapova|publisher=[[People Magazine]]|date=2006-04-17|author=Kathy Ehrich-Dowd}}</ref> and in early 2008, purchased a penthouse apartment in [[Netanya]], [[Israel]].<ref name="movingon">[http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article3451545.ece Moving on], TimesOnline. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> Sharapova lists fashion, movies, music and reading the [[Sherlock Holmes]] and [[Pippi Longstocking]] series as among her off-court interests,<ref name="wtacareer"/> while she has also talked in the past about how she takes hip-hop dance classes.<ref name="bangkokpost">[http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=125306 Trendy Sharapova jumps into the hip-hop mix], Bangkok Post. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>

At the [[2004 U.S. Open (tennis)|2004 US Open]], Sharapova, along with several other Russian women tennis players, wore a black ribbon in observance of the tragedy after the [[Beslan school hostage crisis]], which took place only several days before.<ref name="espn">[http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/usopen04/news/story?id=1874900 Sharapova puts loss in perspective], ESPN. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> In 2005, she donated around [[United States dollar|US$]]50,000 to those affected by the crisis.<ref name="wtacareer"/> On February 14, 2007, Sharapova was appointed a [[UNDP Goodwill Ambassador|Goodwill Ambassador]] for the [[UNDP|United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP) and donated [[United States dollar|US$]]100,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects. She stated at the time that she was planning to travel back to the area after Wimbledon in 2008,<ref name="usatoday">[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2007-08-13-799623401_x.htm Maria Sharapova plans 1st trip back to Chernobyl since family fled], USAToday. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref> though it is unknown whether this happened.

In July 2008, Sharapova sent a message on DVD to the memorial service of Emily Bailes, who had performed the coin toss ahead of the [[2004 Wimbledon Championships|2004 Wimbledon final]] that Sharapova had gone on to win.<ref name="bbcnews">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7489565.stm Service held for Wimbledon girl], BBC News. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>

Sharapova has often implied that she desires an early retirement. Following the retirement of 25-year-old [[Justine Henin]], Sharapova said, "If I was 25 and I'd won so many Grand Slams, I'd quit too."<ref name="henin">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7401565.stm Henin is best of her generation], BBC News, May 2008. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>

==Awards==
:''See: [[WTA Awards]]
;2003
* Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year
'''2004'''
* WTA Player of the Year
* WTA Most Improved Player of the Year
;2005
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
* Named the country's best female player for the year by Russia's tennis federation
* Master of Sports of Russia
* Prix de Citron Roland Garros
;2006
* Named the country's best female player for the year by Russia's tennis federation
* Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year
;2007
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
* ESPY Best International Female Athlete
* ESPN Hottest Female Athlete
;2008
* Named the January 2008 female Athlete of the Month by the [[United States Sports Academy]] for her performance at the [[Australian Open]]
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player

==Endorsements==
Arguably, the combination of her tennis success and physical beauty have enabled her to secure commercial endorsements that greatly exceed in value her tournament winnings.<ref name="marcganis">Marc Ganis, the president of SportsCorp Ltd., a sports-industry consultant in [[Chicago]], said, "Never underestimate the importance of physical beauty to an athlete's endorsement opportunities. Other than performance on the court, it may be the single most important asset." ''The New York Times''. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/03/sports/tennis/03endorse.html?fta=y Serving Their Clients], September 7, 2006</ref><ref name="hbswk">"It does not hurt that Sharapova is regarded as one of the most beautiful athletes in the world." [http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5607.html Marketing Maria: Managing the Athlete Endorsement], [[Harvard Business School]] Lessons from the classroom, Sara Jane Gilbert, October 29, 2007. Retrieved on [[2008-06-01]].</ref> In April 2005, ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' named her one of the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world. In 2006, ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'' ranked Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year. She posed in a six-page [[bikini]] photoshoot spread in the 2006 [[Valentine's Day]] issue of the ''[[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue]]'', alongside 25 scantily-clad [[supermodels]]. In a poll run by Britain's ''[[FHM]]'' magazine, she was voted the seventh most eligible bachelorette,<ref name="newscomau">{{cite web | url = http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21300664-10388,00.html| work = NEWS.COM.AU | title = Rod's daughter most eligible |date=February 28, 2007| accessdate = 2007-02-28 }}</ref> based on both "wealth and looks."

Sharapova used the Prince Tour Diablo for part of 2003 and then used several different Prince racquets until the [[2004 U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]]. She gave the racquet she used in the [[2004 Wimbledon]] final to [[Regis Philbin]] when taping ''[[Live with Regis and Kelly]]''. Sharapova began using the Prince Shark OS at that tournament and had a major part in the production of the Shark racquet.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} She then switched to the Prince O3 White racquet in January 2006. Because of Sharapova's various shoulder injuries, she switched to the Prince O3 Speedport Black Longbody in July 2008.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}

In June 2007, Forbes magazine listed her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with annual earnings of over [[United States dollar|US$]]23 million.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_The-Celebrity-100-Athletes_7EarningsPrevYear.html The Celebrity 100]</ref> ([[CBS]], the American television network, reported in August 2006 that the figure is over US$26 million.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}) The majority is made from endorsements and sponsorships. In a later interview, she said, "You know, one of the greatest things about being an athlete and, you know, making money is realizing that you can help, you know, help the world, and especially children, who I absolutely love working with."<ref name="jurgita">[http://www.jurgita.com/articles-id2492.html Celebrities on Modeling: Maria Sharapova], Jurgita.com. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>

In 2005 during a photo shoot for [[Canon (company)|Canon]], a lewd photo was taken of Sharapova without her knowledge by Japanese advertising agency [[Dentsu]]. The company currently has a lawsuit related to this incident.<ref name="timesonline">Hines, Nico. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2793316.ece Ad agency sued over lewd picture of Maria Sharapova], ''The Times'', November 2, 2007. Accessed June 2, 2008.</ref>

Sharapova has also been depicted in many tennis-related video games, along with such players as [[Daniela Hantuchová]], [[Lindsay Davenport]], [[Venus Williams]], and [[Anna Kournikova]]. Some of the titles are ''[[Top Spin (video game)|Top Spin]]'' ([[Play Station 2]] version), ''[[Top Spin 2]]'', ''[[Smash Court Tennis 3]]'' and ''[[Virtua Tennis 3]]''. She has also just appeared in the roster of the newest edition of the tennis-related video games, ''[[Top Spin 3]]'', which was released on June 20, 2008.

==Quotations==
{{unencyclopedic}}
* "I’ve been playing against older and stronger competition my whole life. It has made me a better tennis player and able to play against this kind of level despite their strength and experience".<ref name="sharapovaquotes">[http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/maria_sharapova/ Maria Sharapova quotes], Thinkexist.com. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>
* "When I was working my way to the top of tennis, I didn't say I was number two, I said I wanted to be number one".<ref name="bbc">Newbery, Piers. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/5333274.stm Sharapova proves her worth], ''BBC News'', September 10, 2006. Accessed June 2, 2008.</ref>
* "A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesn’t have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things they never thought possible".<ref>[http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Sharapova/Sharapova_mysay.html JockBio: Maria Sharapova Quotes], JockBio.com. Accessed July 23, 2008.</ref>
* Upon hearing that ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' had named her in 2006 as the world's best-paid female athlete, Sharapova said, apparently only a little tongue-in-cheek, "It's never enough. Bring on the money. There's no limit to how much you can make."<ref name="dailytelegraph">Hodgkinson, Mark. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/08/16/stshar16.xml Sharapova looks unbeatable in the money stakes], ''Daily Telegraph'', August 17, 2006. Accessed June 2, 2008.</ref>

==Grand Slam singles finals==
===Wins (3)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|width="50"|'''Year
|width="200"|'''Championship
|width="200"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="200"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2004 || [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Serena Williams]] || 6–1, 6–4
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
| 2006 || [[U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]] || {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Justine Henin]] || 6–4, 6–4
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| 2008 || [[Australian Open]] || {{flagicon|SRB}} [[Ana Ivanović]] || 7–5, 6–3
|}

===Runner-up (1)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|width="50"|'''Year
|width="200"|'''Championship
|width="200"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="200"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| 2007 || [[Australian Open]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Serena Williams]] || 6–1, 6–2
|}

==WTA Tour Championships singles finals==
===Win (1)===
{|class=wikitable
|-
|width="50"|'''Year
|width="200"|'''Venue
|width="200"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="200"|'''Score in Final
|-
|-
||2004 ||[[WTA Tour Championships|Los Angeles]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Serena Williams]]|| 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
|}

===Runner-up (1)===
{|class=wikitable
|-
|width="50"|'''Year
|width="200"|'''Venue
|width="200"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="200"|'''Score in Final
|-
|-
|2007 ||[[WTA Tour Championships|Madrid]] || {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Justine Henin]]|| 5–7, 7–5, 6–3
|}

==WTA Tour titles (22)==
===Singles (19)===
<table width="53%">
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="33%" align="left">
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''Legend'''
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| Grand Slam (3)
|- bgcolor="#FF6666"
| WTA Championships (1)
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| Tier I (6)
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| Tier II (3)
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| Tier III (5)
|- bgcolor="#66CCFF"
| Tier IV (1)
|}
<td valign="top" width="33%" align="left">
<table class="wikitable">
<tr bgcolor="#EEEEEE">
<td>'''Titles by Surface'''</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hard (14)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grass (3)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Clay (1)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Carpet (1)</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''No.'''
|'''Date'''
|'''Tournament'''
|'''Surface'''
|'''Opponent in the final'''
|'''Score'''
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 1.
| September 29, 2003
| [[Japan Open Tennis Championships]], [[Tokyo]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Anikó Kapros]]
| 2–6, 6–2, 7–6(5)
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2.
| October 27, 2003
| [[Bell Challenge]], [[Quebec City, Canada]]
| Hard (i)
| {{flagicon|VEN}} [[Milagros Sequera]]
| 6–2 retired
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 3.
| June 7, 2004
| [[DFS Classic]], [[Birmingham]], [[United Kingdom]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Tatiana Golovin]]
| 4–6, 6–2, 6–1
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
|4.
| June 21, 2004
| '''[[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]''', [[London]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Serena Williams]]
| 6–1, 6–4
|- bgcolor="#66CCFF"
| 5.
| September 27, 2004
| [[Hansol Korea Open Tennis Championships]], [[Seoul]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|POL}} [[Marta Domachowska]]
| 6–1, 6–1
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 6.
| October 4, 2004
| Japan Open Tennis Championships, Tokyo
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mashona Washington]]
| 6–0, 6–1
|- bgcolor="#FF6666"
| 7.
| November 8, 2004
| [[WTA Tour Championships|WTA Championships]], [[Los Angeles]]
| Hard (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Serena Williams
| 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 8.
| February 6, 2005
| [[Toray Pan Pacific Open]], Tokyo
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Lindsay Davenport]]
| 6–1, 3–6, 7–6(5)
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| 9.
| February 21, 2005
| [[Qatar Total Open]], [[Doha]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Alicia Molik]]
| 4–6, 6–1, 6–4
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 10.
| June 6, 2005
| DFS Classic, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| Grass
| {{flagicon|SCG}} [[Jelena Janković]]
| 6–2, 4–6, 6–1
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 11.
| March 18, 2006
| [[Indian Wells Masters|Pacific Life Open]], [[Indian Wells, California]], U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Elena Dementieva]]
| 6–1, 6–2
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 12.
| August 6, 2006
| [[Acura Classic]], [[San Diego, California]], U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Kim Clijsters]]
| 7–5, 7–5
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| 13.
| September 9, 2006
| '''[[U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]]''', [[New York City]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Justine Henin]]
| 6–4, 6–4
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 14.
| October 22, 2006
| [[Zürich Open]], [[Zürich, Switzerland]]
| Hard (i)
| {{flagicon|SVK}} [[Daniela Hantuchová]]
| 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| 15.
| October 29, 2006
| [[Generali Ladies Linz]], [[Linz, Austria]]
| Hard (i)
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Nadia Petrova]]
| 7–5, 6–2
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 16.
| August 5, 2007
| Acura Classic, San Diego, California, U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|SUI}} [[Patty Schnyder]]
| 6–2, 3–6, 6–0
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| 17.
| January 26, 2008
| '''[[Australian Open]]''', [[Melbourne]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|SRB}} [[Ana Ivanović]]
| 7–5, 6–3
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 18.
| February 24, 2008
| Qatar Total Open, Doha
| Hard
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Vera Zvonareva]]
| 6–1, 2–6, 6–0
|-
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| 19.
| April 13, 2008
| [[Bausch & Lomb Championships]], [[Amelia Island, Florida]], U.S.
| Clay
| {{flagicon|SVK}} [[Dominika Cibulková]]
| 7–6(7), 6–3
|}

===Doubles (3)===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
| '''No.'''
| '''Date'''
| '''Tournament'''
| '''Surface'''
| '''Partnering'''
| '''Opponents in the final'''
| '''Score'''
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 1.
| September 29, 2003
| [[Japan Open Tennis Championships]], [[Tokyo]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|THA}} [[Tamarine Tanasugarn]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ansley Cargill]] <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ashley Harkleroad]]
| 7–6(1), 6–0
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2.
| October 20, 2003
| [[Fortis Championships Luxembourg|Fortis Championships]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Luxembourg]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|THA}} Tamarine Tanasugarn
| {{flagicon|UKR}} [[Elena Tatarkova]] <br /> {{flagicon|GER}} [[Marlene Weingärtner]]
| 6–1, 6–4
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 3.
| June 7, 2004
| [[DFS Classic]], [[Birmingham]], [[United Kingdom]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Maria Kirilenko]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Lisa McShea]] <br /> {{flagicon|VEN}} [[Milagros Sequera]]
| 6–2, 6–1
|}

==WTA Tour runner-ups (8)==
===Singles (7)===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''Legend'''
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| Grand Slam (1)
|- bgcolor="#FF6666"
| WTA Championships (1)
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| Tier I (3)
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| Tier II (1)
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| Tier III (1)
|- bgcolor="#66CCFF"
| Tier IV & V (0)
|}
{| class=wikitable
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''No.'''
|'''Date'''
|'''Tournament'''
|'''Surface'''
|'''Opponent in the final'''
|'''Score'''
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 1.
| October 24, 2004
| [[Zürich Open]], [[Zürich, Switzerland]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Alicia Molik]]
| 4–6, 6–2, 6–3
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 2.
| March 3, 2005
| [[Sony Ericsson Open]], [[Key Biscayne, Florida]], [[U.S.]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Kim Clijsters]]
| 6–3, 7–5
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| 3.
| February 26, 2006
| [[Dubai Tennis Championships]], [[United Arab Emirates]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Justine Henin]]
| 7–5, 6–2
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 4.
| March 2, 2006
| Sony Ericsson Open, Key Biscayne, Florida, U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]]
| 6–4, 6–3
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| 5.
| January 29, 2007
| '''[[2007 Australian Open|Australian Open]]''', [[Melbourne]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Serena Williams]]
| 6–1, 6–2
|- bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 6.
| June 18, 2007
| [[DFS Classic]], [[Birmingham]], [[United Kingdom]]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|SRB}} [[Jelena Janković]]
| 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
|- bgcolor="#FF6666"
| 7.
| November 11, 2007
| [[WTA Tour Championships]], [[Madrid, Spain]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Justine Henin
| 5–7, 7–5, 6–3
|}

===Doubles (1)===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
| '''No.'''
| '''Date'''
| '''Tournament'''
| '''Surface'''
| '''Partnering'''
| '''Opponents in the final'''
| '''Score'''
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 1.
| February 16, 2004
| [[Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Cellular South Cup|Cellular South Cup]], [[Memphis, Tennessee]], [[U.S.]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Vera Zvonareva]]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Åsa Svensson]] <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Meilen Tu]]
| 6–4, 7–6(0)
|}

==ITF titles (4)==
===Singles (4)===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''No.'''
|'''Date'''
|'''Tournament'''
|'''Surface'''
|'''Opponent in the final'''
|'''Score'''
|-
| 1.
| April 21, 2002
| [[Gunma]], [[Japan]]
| Clay
| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Aiko Nakamura]]
| 6–4, 6–1
|-
| 2.
| August 4, 2002
| [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Laura Granville]]
| 0–6, 6–3, 6–1
|-
| 3.
| September 15, 2002
| [[Peachtree City]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kelly McCain]]
| 6–0, 6–1
|-
| 4.
| May 11, 2003
| [[Sea Island, Georgia|Sea Island]], U.S.
| Clay
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Christina Wheeler]]
| 6–4, 6–3
|}

==Singles performance timeline==
{{Performance timeline legend}}
''To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only once a tournament when the player's participation in the tournament has concluded. This table is current through the [[Toray Pan Pacific Open]] in [[Tokyo]], which ended on September 21, 2008.''
<!--if you can't understand the italicized note, it just means WAIT till she exits in the tournament, either with a win or a loss so an editor can do it in just one go. and in updating numbers, include the update of tournaments played, finals reached and won, surface win-loss, overall win-loss, and these numbers in the career column, as well as the win-loss in the footnote. -->
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Tournament !! [[2001 in tennis|2001]] !! [[2002 in tennis|2002]] !! [[2003 in tennis|2003]] !! [[2004 in tennis|2004]] !! [[2005 in tennis|2005]] !! [[2006 in tennis|2006]] !! [[2007 in tennis|2007]] !! [[2008 in tennis|2008]] !! Career<br />SR !! Career<br />Win-Loss !! Win %
|-
| colspan="15" | '''Grand Slam Tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Australian Open]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[2003 Australian Open - Women's Singles|1R]]<sup>1</sup>
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[2004 Australian Open - Women's Singles|3R]]
|align="center" style="background:yellow;" | [[2005 Australian Open - Women's Singles|SF]]
|align="center" style="background:yellow;" | [[2006 Australian Open - Women's Singles|SF]]
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;" | [[2007 Australian Open - Women's Singles|F]]
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''[[2008 Australian Open - Women's Singles|W]]'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |'''1 / 6'''
<!--Sharapova won three qualifying rounds at her first Australian Open in 2003. Do not subtract from the following Career Win-Loss number, only update it properly-->
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 28–5
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 85%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[French Open (tennis)|French Open]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[2003 French Open - Women's Singles|1R]]<sup>1</sup>
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;" | [[2004 French Open - Women's Singles|QF]]
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;" | [[2005 French Open - Women's Singles|QF]]
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[2006 French Open - Women's Singles|4R]]
|align="center" style="background:yellow;" | [[2007 French Open - Women's Singles|SF]]
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[2008 French Open - Women's Singles|4R]]
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |'''0 / 6'''
<!--Sharapova won three qualifying rounds at her first French Open in 2003. Do not subtract from the following Career Win-Loss number, only update it properly-->
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 22–6
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 79%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"| [[2003 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|4R]]
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"| '''[[2004 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|W]]'''
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"| [[2005 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|SF]]
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"| [[2006 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|SF]]
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"| [[2007 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|4R]]
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"| [[2008 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|2R]]
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| '''1 / 6'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 24–5
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 83%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[U.S. Open (tennis)|US Open]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"| [[2003 US Open - Women's Singles|2R]]
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"| [[2004 US Open - Women's Singles|3R]]
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"| [[2005 US Open - Women's Singles|SF]]
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"| '''[[2006 US Open - Women's Singles|W]]'''
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"| [[2007 US Open - Women's Singles|3R]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 5'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|17–4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|81%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|SR
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 0 / 0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 0 / 0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 0 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 1 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 0 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 1 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 0 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 1 / 3
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| 3 / 23
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"| N/A
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|Win-Loss
|align="center" |0–0
|align="center" |0–0
<!--Sharapova won three qualifying rounds each at her first Australian and French Open in 2003. Do not change the following Grand Slam Win-Loss number-->
|align="center" |10–4
|align="center" |15–3
|align="center" |19–4
|align="center" |20–3
|align="center" |16–4
|align="center" |11–2
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''91–20'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''82%'''
|-
| colspan="12" | '''Olympic Games'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Tennis at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|align="center" colspan="3" style="color:#cccccc;"|Not Held
|align="center" |A
|align="center" colspan="3" style="color:#cccccc;"|Not Held
|align="center"|A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|0–0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|0%
|-
| colspan="12" | '''Current WTA [[Tier I]] Tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Qatar Total Open|Doha]]
|align="center" colspan="7" style="color:#cccccc;"|Not Tier I
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 1'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|5–0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|100%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Pacific Life Open|Indian Wells]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 7'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|19–6
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|76%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Sony Ericsson Open|Miami]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 5'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|14–5
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|74%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Family Circle Cup|Charleston]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R<sup>2</sup>
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 2'''
<!--Sharapova won two qualifying rounds at Charleston in 2003. Do not subtract from the following Career Win-Loss number, only update it properly-->
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|4–2
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|67%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Qatar Telecom German Open|Berlin]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 2'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|4–2
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|67%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Internazionali BNL d'Italia|Rome]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 3'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|8–2
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|80%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[Rogers Cup (tennis)|Montréal / Toronto]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 3'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|2–2
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|50%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Toray Pan Pacific Open|Tokyo]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 4'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|9–3
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|75%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Kremlin Cup|Moscow]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 3'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|2–2
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|50%
|-
| colspan="12" | '''Year-End Championship'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[WTA Tour Championships]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''[[2004 WTA Tour Championships|W]]'''
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 4'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|13–5
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|72%
|-
| colspan="12" | '''Former WTA Tier I Tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Zurich Open|Zurich]]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="color:#cccccc;"|Not<br />Tier I
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 2'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|7–1
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|88%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Acura Classic|San Diego]]
|align="center" colspan="3" style="color:#cccccc;"|Not Tier I
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" colspan="1" style="color:#cccccc;"|Not<br />Held
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''2 / 3'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|12–1
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|92%
|-
| colspan="12" | '''Career Statistics'''
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|Tournaments played
|align="center" |1
|align="center" |8
|align="center" |16
|align="center" |20
|align="center" |15
|align="center" |15
|align="center" |13
|align="center" |9
|align="center" |N/A
|align="center" |97
|align="center" |N/A
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|Finals reached
|align="center" |0
|align="center" |5
|align="center" |3
|align="center" |6
|align="center" |4
|align="center" |7
|align="center" |4
|align="center" |3
|align="center" |N/A
|align="center" |32
|align="center" |N/A
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|'''Tournaments Won'''
|align="center" |'''0'''
|align="center" |'''3'''
|align="center" |'''3'''
|align="center" |'''5'''
|align="center" |'''3'''
|align="center" |'''5'''
|align="center" |'''1'''
|align="center" |'''3'''
|align="center" |N/A
|align="center" |'''23'''
|align="center" |N/A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Hardcourt Win-Loss
|align="center" |0–0
|align="center" |23–5
|align="center" |20–9
|align="center" |34–11
|align="center" |29–7
|align="center" |45–5
|align="center" |24–5
|align="center" |19–1
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |194–43
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |82%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Clay Win-Loss
|align="center" |0–1
|align="center" |5–0
|align="center" |9–2
|align="center" |8–3
|align="center" |9–3
|align="center" |3–1
|align="center" |7–2
|align="center" |12–2
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |53–14
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |79%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Grass Win-Loss
|align="center" |0–0
|align="center" |0–0
|align="center" |9–2
|align="center" |12–0
|align="center" |10–1
|align="center" |8–2
|align="center" |7–2
|align="center" |1–1
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |47–8
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |85%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Carpet Win-Loss
|align="center" |0–0
|align="center" |0–0
|align="center" |0–0
|align="center" |1–1
|align="center" |5–1
|align="center" |3–1
|align="center" |2–2
|align="center" |0–0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |11–5
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |69%
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|'''Overall Win-Loss'''
|align="center" |'''0–1'''
|align="center" |'''28–5'''
|align="center" |'''38–13'''
|align="center" |'''55–15'''
|align="center" |'''53–12'''
|align="center" |'''59–9'''
|align="center" |'''40–11'''
|align="center" |'''32–4'''
|align="center" |'''N/A'''
|align="center" |'''305–70'''
|align="center" |81%
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Win %
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|0%
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|85%
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|75%
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|79%
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|82%
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|87%
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|78%
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|89%
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|N/A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| '''Year End Ranking'''
|align="center" |'''None
|align="center" |'''186
|align="center" |'''32
|align="center" style="background:#EEE8AA;"|'''4
|align="center" style="background:#EEE8AA;"|'''4
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|'''2
|align="center" style="background:#EEE8AA;"|'''5
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |'''N/A'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |'''N/A'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |'''N/A'''
|}

<sup>1</sup> Sharapova won three qualifying matches to reach the main draw.

<sup>2</sup> Sharapova won two qualifying matches to reach the main draw.

==WTA Tour career earnings==
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
! Year !! Majors !! WTA wins !! Total wins !! Earnings ([[United States dollar|US$]]) !! Money list rank
|-
|align="center"|2003
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|2
|align="right"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/pdfs/rankings/prizemoney/prize_money_2003.pdf 222,005]
|align="center"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/pdfs/rankings/prizemoney/prize_money_2003.pdf 51]
|-
|align="center"|2004
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|5
|align="right"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/pdfs/rankings/prizemoney/prize_money_2004.pdf 2,506,263]
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/pdfs/rankings/prizemoney/prize_money_2004.pdf 1]
|-
|align="center"|2005
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|3
|align="right"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/includes/TrackIt.asp?file=/global/pdfs/shared/newsletters/notesandnetcords/editions/2005/nov14.pdf 1,921,283]
|align="center" style="background:#F0DC82;"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/includes/TrackIt.asp?file=/global/pdfs/shared/newsletters/notesandnetcords/editions/2005/nov14.pdf 5]
|-
|align="center"|2006
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|5
|align="right"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/pdfs/rankings/2006/all_ytd_prize_money.pdf 3,799,501]
|align="center" style="background:#F0DC83;"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/pdfs/rankings/2006/all_ytd_prize_money.pdf 2]
|-
|align="center"|2007
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="right"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/global/Pdfs/rankings/2007/All_YTD_Prize_Money.pdf 1,758,550]
|align="center" style="background:#F0DC82;"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/global/Pdfs/rankings/2007/All_YTD_Prize_Money.pdf 7]
|-
|align="center"|2008*
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|3
|align="right"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/global/Pdfs/rankings/2008/All_YTD_Prize_Money.pdf 1,937,879]
|align="center" style="background:#F0DC83;"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/global/Pdfs/rankings/2008/All_YTD_Prize_Money.pdf 6]
|-
|align="center"|Career*
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|16
|align="center"|19
|align="right"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/pdfs/rankings/2008/all_career_prize_money.pdf 12,169,281]
|align="center"|[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/pdfs/rankings/2008/all_career_prize_money.pdf 12]
|}
: * As of September 15, 2008.

==See also==
* [[List of Grand Slam Women's Singles champions]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


{{Simpsons games}}
==External links==
{{commonscat|Maria Sharapova}}
* [http://www.mariasharapova.com Maria Sharapova's Official Site]
* {{wta|id=310137|name=Maria Sharapova}}
* {{ITF female profile|number=100013223}}
* {{FedCupplayerlink|id=100013223}}
* [http://www.tenniscorner.net/index.php?corner=W&action=headtohead&playerid=SHM007 Sharapova's record versus other players]
* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2006_swimsuit/athletes/ Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue: Maria Sharapova]
* {{myspace|msharapova1}}
* [http://www.informationtennis.com/#/swomen/4526256112 Information Tennis] profile of Maria Sharapova


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[[Category:The Simpsons video games|Hit & Run]]
{{s-sports}}
[[Category:2003 video games]]
{{succession box |
[[Category:GameCube games]]
| before = [[Lindsay Davenport]]<br />Lindsay Davenport<br />[[Justine Henin]]<br />Justine Henin
[[Category:Xbox games]]
| after = Lindsay Davenport<br />Lindsay Davenport<br />Justine Henin<br />[[Ana Ivanović]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
| title = [[List of WTA number 1 ranked players|World No. 1]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
| years = August 22, 2005 - August 28, 2005<br />September 12, 2005 - October 23, 2005<br />January 29, 2007 - March 18, 2007<br />May 19, 2008- June 8, 2008
[[Category:Video games developed in Canada]]
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| before = [[Ana Ivanović]]
| after = [[Dinara Safina]]
| title = [[US Open Series|US Open Series Champion]]
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| before = [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]]
| after = [[Tatiana Golovin]]
| title = [[WTA Awards|WTA Newcomer of the Year]]
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| before = [[Nadia Petrova]]
| after = [[Ana Ivanović]]
| title = [[WTA Awards|WTA Most Improved Player]]
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| before = [[Justine Henin]]
| after = [[Kim Clijsters]]
| title = [[WTA Awards|WTA Player of the Year]]
| years = 2004
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{{succession box |
| before = [[Serena Williams]]<br />[[Venus Williams]]<br /><br />
| after = [[Venus Williams]]<br />Incumbent<br /><br />
| title = [[Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award|ESPY Best Female Tennis Player]]
| years = 2005<br />2007 - 2008
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{{Top ten tennis players|wtasingles=y}}
{{Tennis World Number Ones (women)}}
{{Australian Open women's singles champions}}
{{Wimbledon women's singles champions}}
{{US Open women's singles champions}}
{{WTA Tour singles champions}}

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{{Persondata
|NAME = Sharapova, Maria Yuryevna
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Шара́пова; Мари́я Ю́рьевна
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Russian tennis player
|DATE OF BIRTH = April 19, 1987
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Nyagan]], [[Siberia]], [[Russia]]
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{Lifetime|1987|LIVING|Sharapova, Maria}}
[[Category:Australian Open champions]]
[[Category:People from Bradenton, Florida]]
[[Category:Russian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Russian female models]]
[[Category:Russian tennis players]]
[[Category:US Open champions]]
[[Category:Wimbledon champions]]


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Revision as of 10:53, 12 October 2008

The Simpsons Hit & Run
File:Simpsons hit and run PS2.jpg
Developer(s)Radical Entertainment
Publisher(s)Vivendi Universal Games
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Microsoft Windows
Genre(s)Action-adventure (Sandbox)
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Simpsons Hit & Run is an action-adventure video game based on the animated sitcom The Simpsons. Hit & Run was released on September 16, 2003 in the United States and October 24, 2003 in Europe.[1] It was developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal and was released for the Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Windows PCs.[1] To make the game more involved, all dialogue and story were crafted by writers from The Simpsons, with all character voices supplied by the actual cast.[2]

Gameplay

There are seven levels in the game, each with a unique plot, though the setting for four of the levels is a previous level with somewhat altered topography. Each level has a specific character which the player controls. The five characters are Homer Simpson (played twice), Bart Simpson (played twice), Lisa Simpson, Marge Simpson and Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.

The Simpsons Hit & Run is played much like Grand Theft Auto III and its successors; the game uses a sandbox style format with emphasis on driving, and the player controls their character from a third-person view. The player can also perform similar, albeit more benign, acts of violence or destruction. Pedestrians can be attacked, cars can be blown up, and much of the environment can be destroyed in some manner. However, pedestrians can never be killed (merely annoyed), and when other cars are destroyed, their occupants will usually make some sort of humorous retort to lighten the mood ("Spines don't bend that way", "Gee, thanks a lot Mr. Break-my-legs").

On foot, the player character can walk, run, and performs several kinds of attacks: a normal kick, a jumping kick, or a smashing move. Buildings require the player to be on foot when entering them, and most missions must usually be started on foot. The player is incapable of dying, though there are several ways to lose coins and a generous supply of hazards that force the player to repeat certain actions if they fail to avoid them.

To drive, the player can either commandeer one of the many civilian vehicles that litter the road or 'call' for those they have earned using one of the numerous blue phone booths scattered around each level. Civilian cars are typically inferior to those the player can earn. The cars earned by the player have different stats, rated by one to five: some are tougher, others are faster, and these stats are typically higher for cars earned in later levels. Cars are earned in several ways: by beating a level, completing the bonus mission in each level, completing the three races in each level, buying them from Gil, or by buying a specialized car from another character. Every car can be damaged and eventually destroyed, but numerous floating wrenches in each level will automatically restore the vehicle to pristine condition. Destroyed cars can still be driven, albeit awkwardly, so the player may repair the car if they can reach a wrench. They can also be repaired for ten coins by the phone booths.

Like Grand Theft Auto III, The Simpsons Hit & Run has a warning meter to indicate when the police will retaliate for bad behavior. Located in the bottom-right corner of the screen, the circular 'Hit and Run' meter will fill when the player runs people over or destroys things, and likewise decrease when they cease doing so. When filled, several respawning police cars are summoned to chase the player down for the duration of the 'Hit and Run'. While being chased, the Hit and Run meter will deplete twice as fast, aiding in losing the police. Should the police cars manage to stay within an invisible proximity field for a certain period of time, the player will be fined fifty coins. Hitting the police cars will not increase the player's meter.

In each level there are numerous items the player can collect. The primary item is coins, which are essential to buying new cars, which in turn are required to progress in the game. Coins can also be used to purchase costumes, some of which are also required for missions. There are also secrets the player locate, such as Wasp cameras or Itchy and Scratchy cards. By collecting all 49 of the latter, seven in each level, the player can unlock a special Itchy and Scratchy episode.

Plot

NOTE: The levels are individual days in October based on the various newspapers seen during the loading period for each level.

Level 1-October 25

The game starts with a cut scene showing a horde of robot wasps descending on Springfield. After Homer completes several tutorial missions (self-acknowledged by Bart, who narrates. Throughout the level, however, he states how he is annoyed that he accepted the offer to do the tutorials.) a further cut scene shows more mysterious happenings going on around Springfield. The next few missions follow Homer exploring the strange goings on where he is led to believe Mr. Burns is behind everything. He denies any responsibility and fires Homer, despite being unaware of who Homer is. But if Montgomery Burns wasn't behind this, then who was?

Level 2-October 26

Bart is next to take up the story. After completing a series of missions including evading the truancy officer (Principal Skinner) and purchasing illegal fireworks, Bart meets Professor Frink, who needs Bart to find objects so he can complete his 'Truckasaurus' — a giant robotic dinosaur that destroys cars for the purpose of entertainment. After completion of a few further missions, a cut scene shows Bart entering the stadium which the Truckasaurus is in. A tractor beam abducts Bart from the outside of the stadium, giving the players a hint who's really behind the strange happenings in Springfield.

Level 3-October 27

Attempting to find her brother, Lisa starts exploring the town for clues. After several false leads from Milhouse, Lisa discovers that the black sedans that have been appearing around town are connected to Bart's disappearance. After she catches some fish for Captain McCallister (The Sea Captain), he directs Lisa to a black limousine which he said he saw Bart get into. After she chases and destroys the limo, Bart is still nowhere to be found. After again talking with the captain, Lisa eventually finds Bart on a ship in Springfield harbor, although he appears to have memory loss and is mumbling unintelligibly with occasional mentioning of the sedans, and of Buzz Cola, the new and improved cola drink recently launched by Krusty the Clown.

Level 4-October 28

Attempting to discover what has affected Bart, Marge investigates a crop circle that recently appeared in Cletus' crop field. After she helps him with his chores, Cletus gives Marge some information. In return for information regarding a different crop circle, seen a long time ago, Marge runs errands for Grandpa Simpson. His help reveals the crop circle was an exact replica of the Buzz Cola logo, which Marge saw at the Kwik-E-Mart while running Grandpa's errands. Marge takes a can of the soda to Bart. He snaps out of his stupor and reveals it to be mind-control cola produced by aliens. Marge decides to purge Springfield of the cola but in spite of her valiant efforts, the drink still maintains popularity.

Level 5-October 29

Inspired by Marge's efforts, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon tries to discover the source of the cola. After several missions, he decides he needs to recruit the help of a criminal to track down the owner of the cola trucks. After following Chief Wiggum, he tracks down Snake. Snake initially tries to mug Apu, but agrees to give him information if Apu helps him with his 'community service', which turns out to include destroying an armoured truck. Afterwards, Snake reveals that the cola trucks are registered to the Springfield Museum of Natural History. Apu finds Bart, and together they destroy the curators' car to get in. Inside the museum, they find a meteor to be the source of the cola. They eavesdrop on a conversation between Kang and Kodos, who are masterminding the scheme. They learn that the wasp cameras are filming the antics of Springfield for an alien reality show, Foolish Earthlings. Attempting to boost ratings, the aliens are using the cola to make people go crazy by which time they will have distributed laser guns, driving the town to a violent massacre sure to draw many viewers.

Level 6-October 30

Apu, being frightened of the aliens, refuses to help any further. Bart takes it upon himself to foil Kang and Kodos' plan. He proceeds toward the Krusty Lu Studios where he asks Krusty to help him stop production of the laser guns. Krusty does not believe Bart's story, however, so Bart brings him an actual gun. Krusty latterly informs Bart that he has already assisted the Duff Brewery to set up free laser gun stands all around town, so Bart sets out and destroys them all before people can collect their guns. Bart goes to Homer for help, who is outraged that Duff would ever commit such a crime. The duo quickly pursues Kang and Kodos to the brewery, but they escape. Before departing, the aliens reveal that the lasers were merely the beginning, and that they have already released Buzz Cola throughout Springfield's water supply. The Cola that is seeping into the ground releases the un-dead from the Springfield Cemetery, who rise up and begin to invade the town.

Level 7-October 31

The final level is designed to be as spooky as possible and is based around the Treehouse of Horror episodes. It is Homer's turn again, and his first mission is to collect supplies to protect his family and home from the marauding zombies. After talking to Comic Book Guy, Homer pursues a further black sedan to the nuclear plant as he says it belongs to the aliens. Homer meets with Professor Frink, who has discovered the aliens' weakness: nuclear waste. He plans to use the ship's tractor beam to suck up cars that are loaded with drums of nuclear waste. After successfully loading Professor Frink's car into the aliens' tractor beam, Homer discovers he needs even more waste, so he decides to track down Mr. Burns. Burns gives him a map detailing the locations of nuclear waste throughout the town, though each time Homer visits the exact same spot to retrieve further barrels. After he loads three more cars into the ship it explodes and crashes into the school. The next day, Springfield is back to normal as Kang and Kodos watch down from heaven, only too pleased that their show was a success but annoyed that they have to watch the end credits.

Characters and Cars

Level 1- Family Sedan(Homer)

Level 2- Honor Roller(Bart)

Level 3- Malibu Stacey Car(Lisa)

Level 4- Canyenero(Marge)

Level 5- Longhorn(Apu)

Level 6- Ferrini(Bart)

Level 7- 70's Sports Car(Homer)

Reviews

The game received mostly positive reviews, with many considering it the best Simpsons game to-date.

References

  1. ^ a b "The Simpsons: Hit & Run". IGN. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  2. ^ "The Simpsons Hit and Run for PS2 review at IGN". IGN. November 9, 2001. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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