The Kremlin's spokesman said on Wednesday that a failed drug test by Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova should not be "projected onto" the whole of Russian sport.
Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova eased past Luxembourg's Anne Kremer 6-0 6-2 to reach the final.
Maria Sharapova and world No 1 Serena Williams haven't played each other at the Wimbledon Championships since their Round of 16 clash in 2010.
The blonde Sharapova -- billed the new Anna Kournikova -- was one of eight women given berths in the main draw of the grasscourt Grand Slam.
Favourite Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova will meet in the women's singles final at Wimbledon. The former stormed back after a shaky start to beat Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-3 while eighth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova showed the greater will, ambition and control of her nerves to overcome Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.
Maria Sharapova powered into the Wimbledon semi-finals with an awesome display every bit as spectacular as the thunder claps that rattled the All England Club on Tuesday. The Russian fifth seed, the stand-out name in an unfamiliar looking last eight, roared to a 6-1, 6-1 win over shell-shocked Dominika Cibulkova under Centre Court's roof and now only wildcard Sabine Lisicki stands between Sharapova and her first final here since she won the tournament in 2004.
Images from the French Open women's final plsyed at the Roland Garros on Saturday.
Fourth seed Maria Sharapova rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 second-round win over Spain's Garbine Muguruza as order and power was restored to the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Wednesday.
Maria Sharapova defeated French qualifier Stephanie Foretz 6-1, 6-4 while Venus Williams survived British wildcard Naomi Cavaday.
Maria Sharapova played aggressively from the start to win her first title since last year's French Open with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Caroline Wozniacki in the BNP Paribas Open final on Sunday.
Maria Sharapova's tiumph in Stuttgart on Sunday marked only the fifth instance a her decade-long career that the Russian successfully defended a title. Rediff.com takes a look at the instances.
World No 2 Maria Sharapova saved her best performance of the week for last when she successfully defended her Stuttgart Grand Prix title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over second seed Li Na of China to kick off her clay-court season in style on Sunday.
Newly-elected president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), Bernard Giudicelli, has indicated that they are reluctant to hand Maria Sharapova a wild card entry for this year's Grand Slam tournament despite the embattled Russian tennis star returning from a doping ban.
Williams is arguably the greatest female athlete, but sponsors have often avoided the 21-time Grand Slam singles champion.
China's Li Na proved too strong for former world number one Maria Sharapova at Edgbaston for the second year in succession on Sunday when she claimed the grasscourt title with a 7-5, 6-1 victory.
Maria Sharapova was knocked out of the U.S. Open Friday in a shock third round loss to Flavia Pennetta, while Andy Murray was lucky to survive after being pushed to five sets by Robin Haase.
Maria Sharapova, David Beckham, Christina Hendricks were among the hotsteppers who showed up at the ongoing New York Fashion Week.
With a career Grand Slam of major titles and a sweet-making business, Maria Sharapova dismissed the idea of staying at home and having a drink.
Maria Sharapova led a trio of Russians into the last 16 of the French Open on Saturday while a relieved fifth seed David Ferrer was given an unnerving reminder of just how effective Lleyton Hewitt's grit can be.
The Maria Sharapova-Jimmy Connors partnership got off to a rocky start on Tuesday as Sloane Stephens shocked the third ranked Russian 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 at the Western and Southern Open.
Maria Sharapova hit out at the ruling body of women's tennis (WTA) on Friday for making her take part in a publicity shoot on the eve of the Italian Open. She could be fined $700,000 if she declines to do the shoot, which is part of the WTA's multi-million dollar global marketing campaign. The tournament begins on May 12.
Former tennis world number one Maria Sharapova will be Russia's first female Olympic flag-bearer at the London Games later this month, the national Olympic committee confirmed on Tuesday.
In-form Maria Sharapova added the sunshine with a yellow dress as she routed Mirjana Lucic 6-3, 6-0.
Maria Sharapova will meet Kim Clijsters in the final of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday after the pair came through contrasting semi-final ties.
Maria Sharapova turned a corner in her comeback by reaching the final of the Toronto Cup on Sunday only to find a long road still ahead to get back to the top.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova warmed up in style for the French Open by cruising to her first title in a year with a 6-2, 6-4 win over an an out-of-sorts Samantha Stosur at the Italian Open on Sunday.
Tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams confessed that they got distracted by some X-rated girl talk during the draw ceremony for the WTA Championship in Istanbul.
She once posed for a photograph with an eight-year-old Eugenie Bouchard but that friendly touch was not on show on Thursday as Maria Sharapova wiped the smile off the Canadian's face to set up a French Open final with Simona Halep.
The world number four was forced to miss Russia's Fed Cup final victory over Italy this month because of the injury, which she has been carrying since March.
Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Brisbane International with an ankle injury but the former world number one still expects to be fit for the Australian Open next month.
He may be regarded as the 'God of Cricket' and aficionados of the sport may consider him the best batsman of his generation, but the name Sachin Tendulkar still doesn't ring a bell for all sportspersons. Tennis queen Maria Sharapova is one of those who doesn't even know who Tendulkar is.
Maria Sharapova will be the Russian delegation's flag-bearer at next month's Olympic opening ceremony in London, Russia's tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev said on Tuesday.
With Justine Henin-Hardenne withdrawing from the Grand Slam, Maria Sharapova was elevated to the top spot.
Maria Sharapova pulled out before her Los Angeles Classic semi-final against Nadia Petrova with a strain in her lower left leg.
The top two seeds advanced to the Madrid Open second round on Sunday when Victoria Azarenka dispatched Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6, 6-4 and Maria Sharapova crushed Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0, 6-2.
After the stellar delight of winning the French Open to complete a career grand slam, Maria Sharapova has come back down to earth at Wimbledon, scene of one of her greatest disappointments a year ago.
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