New York, Sep 8: Maria Sharapova has announced she is "pretty happy" with her Grand Slam-winning season which she entered with apprehension due to a niggling ankle injury.
The Russian briefly returned to World No. 1 status after winning the French Open in June to complete the career Grand Slam, making the final of the Australian Open and the semifinal of the US Open.
Slam-wise, it was Sharapova's most successful season ever. Never before has she won one and reached the final of another in the same year.
Speaking after her defeat to Victoria Azarenka at Flushing Meadows late Friday, Sharapova reflected on a season of surprises.
"I'll take them. I'll take the results I had this year," she said.
"I look back at the beginning of the season, and I remember going to Australia early not really sure if I was going to play in a warm-up tournament, my ankle still not feeling great," Sharapova added.
"So if someone had told me, you know, when I had that uncertainty going into the Australian Open, that I would have this type of season, although it's still not over, there are still some events to play, I would have been pretty happy."
But in the hallmark of a champion, Sharapova was not happy at failing to make the final, despite her best run in the New York slam since her victory in 2006.
"This is the last one, it's where I would have loved to get enough further."
