Maria Sharapova of Russia (2ndL) holds her trophy as she poses with her coach Sven Groeneveld (L) and team in the dressing room after winning the women's singles final match against Simona Halep of Romania during the French Open tennis tournament at the R
Maria Sharapova of Russia (2ndL) holds her trophy as she poses with her coach Sven Groeneveld (L) and team in the dressing room after winning the women's singles final match against Simona Halep of Romania during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 7, 2014. REUTERS

A large crowd of fans had gathered on the site where Maria Sharapova was practicing just to get a glimpse of the fourth-ranked Russian superstar. A pack of anxious and enthusiastic fans waited for Sharapova to finish her practice session to obtain autographs too.

On Sept. 29, Sharapova shared a snap of her while signing some tennis souvenirs for the fans. In the photo, security guards can be seen and they all did their job to ensure that the fans will not get past the enclosure and to keep the reigning French Open champion from being mobbed.

Hello #sharafamily in #China pic.twitter.com/PXHurhiGsk

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) September 29, 2014

According to Give Me Sport, the crowd gathered during a practice session prior Sharapova's second round match against Elina Svitolina in the 2014 China Open. Sharapova won against the Ukrainian athlete in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. It was the first meeting for both.

Speaking via the tournament's official website, Sharapova thought that Svitolina played well.

"I think, she's had really good, steady success," Sharapova said of Svitolina. Sharapova is hopeful that she will be able to sustain her run in Beijing. "I'm happy with the way I've started the tournament, hopefully, I'll continue that in the next match, whoever I play," Sharapova further lamented.

Sharapova will face Carla Suarez-Navarro, who defeated Italian and 14th seed Flavia Pennetta, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2, in the third round. Suarez-Navarro managed to win after a wobbly second set to upset the World No. 16 32-year-old Italian athlete.

Sharapova and Suarez-Navarro have met twice in the past. Their first meeting was in the 2013 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells. Sharapova defeated Suarez-Navarro in the third round, 7-5, 6-3. She sustained her winning streak beating Lara Arruabarrena Vecino (7-5, 6-0), Sara Errani (7-6, 6-2), and Maria Kirilenko (6-4, 6-3). Sharapova emerged as the winner after beating Danish star Caroline Wozniacki (6-2, 6-2) in the finale.

Sharapova and Suarez-Navarro met for the second time at the tournament in Montreal, but she suffered a shocking upset to the Spaniard, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. With Sharapova and Suarez-Navarro's head-to-head score tied at 1-1, it will be hard to predict who will triumph in their third meeting.