Maria Sharapova had the flu and exited early from the French Open. Serena Williams also was sick during the French Open but won.
Could the extra rest give Sharapova the time she needs to finally conquer the No. 1 seed and put an end to Serena's 16-match winning streak over her rival?
Maria Sharapova's ailing shoulder to blame for her 16-match losing streak to Serena Williams?
Livetennis.com reported that Sharapova may have a better chance in 2015 to collect her second Wimbledon trophy than in recent years.
Because Sharapova lost in the fourth round at Roland Garros to eventual French Open finalist Lucie Safarova, the world's No. 4 play added to an already-lengthy preparation time for Wimbledon. The tournament was pushed back a week to give players more rest between the French Open and the Grand Slam in England.
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While Williams also would benefit from the longer break, a player such as Sharapova, who has a suspect serving shoulder, might be a bigger beneficiary.
"I think it's great. I think it's nice to have a little extra time," Sharapova said following her French Open exit, according to livetennis.com. "With hard work, I know what I can do, and how I will feel.
"That's the most important thing, just to get healthy, to give myself a chance to prepare, and whether that means a warm-up tournament, or just getting extra days on the grass or training physically on it, then that's what it will end up being."
Sharapova ultimately passed on any grass tournament tuneups, but livetennis.com added that she has not played in any grass-court events prior to Wimbledon since 2010.
Sharapova still has a 41-11 record overall at Wimbledon. She has played Williams three times on grass. Williams routed Sharapova during the 2012 Olympic finals 6-0, 6-1, which was played at Wimbledon. Sharapova won her only Wimbledon crown in 2004 with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Serena.
Williams beat Sharapova in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2009 7-6 (9), 6-4. So grass has been Sharapova's best surface against Williams during Williams' 17-2 head-to-head matchup.
Another big factor in Sharapova's favor could be Williams' quest to win the calendar Grand Slam, having won both the Australian Open and French Open in 2015.
"But (Williams) ain't winning the Grand Slam.," USA TODAY Sports' For the Win predicted earlier this month, her 54-6 record against the other top nine players the last four years and her 32-1 record this year, notwithstanding.
"So if all that's true, why doesn't Serena have a chance at the Slam?" For the Win asks. "The same reason hundreds of professional athletes around the world have been kept from their biggest goals: Nerves. Even Serena Williams, as fierce as she may be on the tennis court, isn't above some good, old-fashioned nervousness."
So if Sharapova is ever to end her Serena slump, the time could be now.
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