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Russian tennis chief: Sharapova capable of winning 2018 French Open

Sharapova cruised on Thursday into the third round of the 2018 French Open

MOSCOW, May 31. /TASS/. Russia’s renowned tennis player Maria Sharapova is demonstrating a decent play at the 2018 French Open and is in the group of players, who are likely to win the prestigious annual tennis tournament, President of the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) Shamil Tarpishchev told TASS.

Sharapova cruised on Thursday into the third round of the 2018 French Open, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year with $45.7 million in prize money up for grabs. The Russian, seeded 28th, cleared the second round of the Roland-Garros tournament, held on May 21-June 10, with 7-5; 6-4 straight sets win over Donna Vekic from Croatia.

"The most important for Maria is to keep training her nerves," Tarpishchev said. "She plays decently in terms of the quality, but Sharapova is unstable in terms of psychology, because her nervous system lacked training. Maria can win in the next round is she is stable and puts up a high tempo."

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Russia’s Sharapova clears second round of 2018 French Open with straight sets win

The Russian tennis player, who is the 2012 and 2014 winner of the Roland Garros tournaments, will face in the next round 6-seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.

"On the whole, if we speak about the most likely winner in ladies’ singles, Paris offers a cocktail of them," Tarpishchev said. "About 12 people are capable of vying for the victory and Sharapova is among them."

Sharapova is Russia’s most decorated tennis player having won a total of five Grand Slam tournaments, namely the Australian Open in 2008, the French Open in 2012 and 2014, Wimbledon in 2004 and the US Open in 2006. She also clinched the silver in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and was the 2008 Federations Cup champion.

After the 15-month long suspension, imposed in 2016 for violating anti-doping regulations, Sharapova made her comeback to tennis in April 2017.

Last October, Sharapova won the 2017 WTA Tianjin Open in China and it was her first tournament to win since May 2015.

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Tennis Maria Sharapova

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Japanese government refrains from commenting on Russia’s latest hypersonic missile

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Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

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US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

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West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 22nd

Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

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Oreshnik test aims to persuade West to avoid escalation in Ukraine — media

According to the report, the use of Oreshnik has become "part of a new era of missile warfare"

Bundeswehr prepares plan for Operation Germany in case of war with Russia — newspaper

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West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

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Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

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Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

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Russian military to warn Ukrainian civilians of future Oreshnik attacks — Kremlin

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Putin warns West that Russia can respond to any turn of events

"There will always be an answer," the president said

China against double standards in international law — Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Lin Jian highlighted Washington's use of double standards in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the United Nations

Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

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Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia

Western nations should take Putin's statement seriously, warns Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban recalled that Russia has "one of the most powerful armies in the world, which boasts the most advanced, most powerful weapons"

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

German politician slams Ukraine’s ‘irresponsible’ strike on Russia with UK-made missiles

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Biden's decision on missile strikes on Russia is his 'last gasp' — Japanese lawmaker

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Putin’s recent statements reflect long-standing policy, expert says

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Russia to hold informal UN Security Council meeting on unilateral restrictions

It will be held on November 25