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Maria Sharapova enjoys some serenity in readiness for French Open defence

Serena Williams is nursing a sore right elbow – and Maria Sharapova is trying hard, no doubt, not to smile too much. This title is hers to lose and when the draw fell kindly enough for the 2014 champion on Friday – keeping her away from the player for whom she has least affection on the Tour, as well as the steadily reviving Victoria Azarenka – the Russian had reason to be pleased. Her clay form is solid, with a semi-final in Madrid followed by last Sunday’s impressive, grinding win over Carla Suarez Navarro in the Rome final, and she looks and sounds stronger than she has done in a while.