With her epic upset of No. 2 Simona Halep in the history books, Maria Sharapova won’t have to face a Top 10 player until the semifinals if she keeps the shriek going.
That’s wild. As in wildcard — the method in which Sharapova got to play in this U.S. Open.
It’s a sensational turn of events in Sharapova’s comeback from the depths of a drug suspension. Earning a host of new believers after gaining a “wildcard” entry into the main draw by the USTA, the 6-foot-2 Russian will be back on the court Wednesday but not at night when she’s most dangerous.
Sharapova, who wore a sparkling-crystal, black dress Monday, is on the day card for her second-round matchup with 66th-ranked Timea Babos from Hungary. Sharapova ran her night record at the Open to 18-0 by blasting Halep with her hallmark firepower.
With No. 7 seed Johanna Konta ousted, the highest-ranked player left in Sharapova’s path to the semifinals is 11th-seeded Dominka Cibulkova of Slovakia. Sharapova, 30, faces an opponent in the second-round (Timea) with a big serve but also a reputation of being mentally fragile.
“Despite not playing a lot of matches coming into this, it almost seemed like I had no right to win this match today and I somehow did,’’ said Sharapova, who cried on the court after match point Monday night. “That’s what I’m most proud of. ‘’
This is Sharapova’s first Grand Slam event since her 15-month suspension for taking the banned, circulation-pumping, heart supplement, meldonium. She made her return in late April in Germany but injuries derailed a storybook comeback. She hadn’t played since late July when she pulled out of Stanford mid-tournament with a left forearm injury.
When she announced her withdrawal from the key Open tuneup in Cincinnati in August, she thought the Open was a longshot. She revealed Monday night she took an MRI in Cincy that wasn’t positive.
“I actually a couple of weeks ago did not even know I’d be able to compete here,’’ Sharapova said. “Getting that MRI in Cincinnati, just looking back at Aug. 12th, it was not a fun day. It was not a fun day getting that MRI getting the result of it, speaking to a doctor, flying to New York getting another opinion with the thought I might miss the US Open.’’
The best part of Sharapova’s comeback, she says, is feeling part of “a team’’ this time. As the normally stoic Sharapova was brought to tears, so was her longtime agent, Max Eisenbud. Her Dutch coach Sven Groeneveld (once Moncia Seles’ guru), physio Jerome Bianca, hitting coach Alex Kuznetsov and fitness coach Yukata Nakumara all got emotional Monday night as Sharapova dropped to her knees after winning match point.
“I felt like my team and I have been through a lot,’’ Sharapova said. “To be in that moment, to see them with me, tennis is a very individual sport. You feel it’s just you most of the time out there. Since I’ve come back, I feel like I’m on a team. I’m not just winning for myself but I’m winning for everyone that has stood behind me. That is a very special feeling to have.’’
When the draw was revealed Friday, Sharapova was getting her nails done. She immediately took out her phone to play YouTube highlights of her past matches vs. Halep to “study.’’ Sharapova, who blasted 60 winners but also made 64 unforced errors, wasn’t quite ready to pour over film of the 24-year-old Hungarian.
“I’ll enjoy this for a little bit of time then I have to move on, but I definitely have to value the feeling I have now,’’ Sharapova said. “This is a big win for me and I will enjoy it.”