Defending champion Maria Sharapova comes into the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix as an overwhelming favorite and is rightly the top seed here in Stuttgart. The Russian, who won the event for the first time last year, went on a dazzling clay court run that culminated in her winning her first ever French Open title and with it becoming World No.1.

Since then, Sharapova hasn’t played on the red dirt but has played some good tennis and is currently ranked No.2 in the world. Maria came agonizingly close to upsetting rival and World No.1 Serena Williams in Miami last month, and showed definite signs of bridging the gap between the two.

The reigning Roland Garros champion has made a good start to her year already winning a title at Indian Wells after reaching the semifinals at the Aussie Open. Maria believes that this could be her year, but for her to achieve back to back titles in Paris the right-hander will surely have to battle Serena this time.

Sharapova’s win-loss record this year stands at 20-3.

Opposite her stands Czech Lucie Safarova. Another talented Czech, Safarova has never been consistent enough to trouble top players. Safarova has had a poor season so far and has a win-loss record of 8-7 so far. Her best result came in Charleston where she reached the quarterfinals.

Head to Head: These two have shared the spoils when it comes to their past meetings, having won a match each. On clay however, it was Safarova who defeated the ‘cow on ice’ back in 2010.