WATCH: Sharapova sharpens up footwork ahead of clay season

The 2019 season started off with some promising signs for former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova. She advanced to the quarterfinals in her first tournament of the year in Shenzhen, then reached the fourth round of the Australian Open—a run that included a win over defending champion Caroline Wozniacki.

But in her next tournament in St. Petersburg, Sharapova was forced out of the event due to injury. She hasn’t seen any official action since and ended up having a surgical procedure performed on her shoulder.

However, the five-time Grand Slam champion is putting in the work where she can.

If all-out playing isn’t in the cards right now, it helps to do what you can, which includes keeping the footwork up to par. Sharapova has famously fought her way back from shoulder issues in the past, coming back to complete the career Grand Slam in 2012 at the French Open after her first major blow.

And her work right now didn’t escape the notice of one of the all-time greats of the game.

Somebody’s training hard! ???????????????????????? https://t.co/Qo8LLC6yp3 — Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) April 2, 2019

Sharapova is currently ranked No. 28 in the world.

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