Russia's tennis chief on Friday backed Maria Sharapova to clinch the one missing grand slam title in her collection, the French Open, next year.
Sharapova, the world No. 4, won Wimbledon in 2004, the U.S. Open in 2006 and the Australian Open two years later, but has never triumphed at Roland Garros.
She made the semifinals twice, edged 6-4, 7-5 by eventual champion Li Na of China earlier this year, and in 2007, when she was thrashed 6-2, 6-1 by Serbia's Ana Ivanovic.
"Why can't Maria win it?" Shamil Tarpishchev, Russia's Fed Cup and Davis Cup captain, asked RIA Novosti. "The Roland Garros courts aren't as slow as they used to be, so everything depends on Maria and the luck of the draw. Anything's possible," he said.
As a big server and baseline hitter, Sharapova, 24, has traditionally been less successful on clay courts. Some commentators have noted that a decline in her serve following a shoulder injury has forced her to adapt better to the surface. In May, she won the biggest clay court event of her career, the Italian Open.
