Maria Sharapova — A has-been at 22?

As I type these words there's an injury delay in her first round French Open match against Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus, currently ranked number 64 in the world (the injured player is Yakimova, not Sharapova).

Sharapova's down one set at the moment.

The sport's high regard for her achievements and stature are reflected in the fact that, as low as she's currently ranked (number 102 in the world), she's playing this match on court number one.

This tournament marks Sharapova's first Grand Slam event since last year's Wimbledon, following which she underwent rotator cuff surgery on her right (serving) shoulder — which had been troubling her since 2007 — in October, 2008, her last singles match having taken place in August of last year at the Rogers Cup.

During her hiatus from the tour her ranking dropped from number 9 at the end of 2008 to number 126 earlier this month.

She's been rehabbing for the past nine months and only began match play this month in the Warsaw Open (top), where she made it to the quarterfinals before losing to eighth seeded Alona Bondarenko (who made it to the final before losing to Alexandra Dulgheru).

Watching Sharapova on the court now, surgical scar covered with an elaborate tape job, I have to wonder if she'll ever be able to make it back up the mountain and if so, how long she'll be able to stay there.

A has-been at 22?

Quite possible.

And so sad.

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Note added at 11:29 a.m. today: Sharapova came back from down one set to take the match.

Yes!

Next up, her fellow countrywoman, number 11-ranked Nadia Petrova.