Sharapova switches racquet for wheel in Stuttgart

Ahead of her first tournament of the clay-court season, Maria Sharapova traded in her tennis racquet for a few minutes behind the wheel on a race track with Formula 1 driver Mark Webber.

The five-time Grand Slam champion let out a few shrieks while in a Porsche 911 with the legendary driver by her side to guide her on the track. She was much more at ease once outside of the ultra-fast car.

Sharapova is certainly familiar with Porsche cars, with the Russian picking up a new one each year from 2012 to 2014 when she won three straight titles in Stuttgart at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

The former No. 1 needed a wildcard to enter the loaded draw in Stuttgart this year, and drew No. 6 seed Caroline Garcia in her first match. Despite a good start, Sharapova would lose, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

The Russian is aiming to get her season back on track, after injuries and a four-match losing streak have plagued her 2018 campaign. Since splitting with coach Sven Groeneveld following Indian Wells, Sharapova has reunited with a familiar face, Thomas Hogstedt. He helped her to the first of her two French Open titles back in 2012.

Sharapova is expected to drop outside of the Top 50 after failing to defend her semifinal points this week.