Maria Sharapova -- all the way back and then some....

Martina Navratilova said she knew Sharapova would be a tennis champion by the way she walked.
Maria was 6.

She made that prophecy come true with a victory over Serena Williams, Wimbledon, 2004, to become champion.

Maria was 17.

Four years later though, a recurring shoulder injury necessitated surgery.

Rehab was slow.  Her ranking fell to no. 126.

Some wondered if she'd ever be, well, "Maria Sharapova" again, or were her best days behind her?

In 2011, she was finalist at both Wimbledon, and Australian Open tournaments.

Then, the next year, the full comeback:  a 2012 French Open championship. 

Especially sweet, because this was a title that had eluded her.

Just 25, with a great future ahead, Maria Sharapova had made a stunning comeback.