Sharapova Eyes French Open Glory

Maria Sharapova says she hopes to put the disappointment of losing her second-straight final on hard courts behind her with a strong showing this year in the upcoming clay court season.

“I feel like I’ve improved with every year that I have been playing on it (clay) and I enjoy it,” said Sharapova, after losing 7-5, 6-4 in the Miami final last Saturday to fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

The 24-year-old Sharapova is now a four-time runner-up in Miami, having lost in the final back-to-back years twice, 2005, 2006, 2011 and 2012.

She has also lost in all three of her finals in 2012, falling twice to world No 1 Victoria Azarenka (Indian Wells and Australian Open) and now to Radwanska in straight sets.

“It’s only 30 minutes after you lose, so it is not the easiest thing in the world,” Sharapova said