“The reaction and anticipation you need are so hard to replicate in training and these are the things I need.”
The 30-year-old Russian now faces Estonian Anett Kontaveit in the quarter final – and by moving into the last eight in Germany, she has already moved inside the world’s top 400 ranked players.
It is now two wins in two since coming back from her drugs banGetty Images
She came into Stuttgart as a wildcard, having not had a world ranking before due to her points expiring during her suspension and.
Sharapova will find out in May whether she will get a wildcard into the French Open qualifiers – and will only get qualify for Wimbledon automatically if she is inside the top 104 by then.
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By winning today she is already into the world top 400 players having not had a ranking before the tournamentAP:Associated Press
According to Twitter account WTA Insider, she is currently ranked around 375 by making the quarters – and will move up to approximately 260 if she gets to the semis.
A final appearance will move her to 180th, and winning the Stuttgart tournament for a fourth time would see Sharapova move to within just 25 places of the world’s top 100.
If Sharapova wins the tournament, she will go all the way up to number 125Rex FeaturesIt comes as Eugenie Bouchard branded Sharapova a “cheater”EPA
Former Wimbledon finalist Bouchard let rip, saying: “She’s a cheater and so, to me, I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again.
“Unfair to all these players who do it the right way and are true.
“I think from the [Women’s Tennis Association] it sends the wrong message to young kids: ‘Cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms.’
“I don’t think that’s right and (she’s) definitely not someone I can say I look up to anymore because it’s definitely ruined it for me a little bit.”
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