It was announced that Sharapova would bring in Thomas Hogstedt as a coach for the 2011 season, joining Michael Joyce. On December 5, Maria played an exhibition match against World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva in Monterrey, Mexico. She went on to win that match 6–1, 7–5.
Sharapova confirmed that her first tournament of the year would be at the 2011 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, held from January 4 to 9. She also announced that she would be leading the Russia Fed Cup team against France in February in their first-round tie.
In her first ever official Australian Open warm-up tournament at the 2011 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, she was seeded 1st. Sharapova was defeated in the third round by the Hungarian veteran and eventual champion Gréta Arn, 2–6, 5–7. After the ASB Classic Sharapova decided to take a hiatus from Joyce's coaching, despite having worked together for a number of years including during her successful years where she became a multiple grand slam champion.
Sharapova participated in the first grand slam of the season at the Australian Open, where she was the 14th seeded player. She made it to the fourth round, where she was unable to find consistency leading her loss to Andrea Petkovic 2–6, 3–6.
Sharapova's next appearance would be at the 2011 Fed Cup tie against France, which she lost to Virginie Razzano 3–6, 4–6.
Sharapova then withdrew from the 2011 Open GDF Suez in Paris because of viral illness.She also had to pull out of five 2011 Dubai Tennis Championships and 2011 Qatar Ladies Open due to an ear infection.
Sharapova returned to the tour in March by taking part in the first premier mandatory tournament of the year, the 2011 BNP Paribas Open, where she was seeded 16th. She then lost in the semi-final to World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 1–6, 2–6. With this result, Sharapova returns to the top 10 for the first time since February, 2009.
Sharapova's next tournament was the second premier mandatory tournament, the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Miami. Seeded 16th, she defeated 26th seed Alexandra Dulgheru in the quarter-finals in an match that lasted 3 hours and 28 minutes, which is the longest match of her career, and though twisted her left ankle while serving at 5–5 in the third set, she finally prevailed 3–6, 7–6(6), 7–6(5). In the semifinals, she defeated Andrea Petkovic 3–6, 6–0, 6–2. In the final, her shaky and error-prone form resulted in a loss to Victoria Azarenka, 1–6, 4–6, despite a late comeback in the second set. By reaching the semifinals, she guaranteed her return to the top 10 for the first time since February 1, 2009.
Because of Sharapova's refusal of her wildcard offer to the 2011 Family Circle Cup, her clay season was scheduled to begin at the third premier mandatory tournament at the 2011 Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open, where she was seeded 8th. She lost to Dominika Cibulková 5–7, 4–6 in the third round.
Sharapova's next tournament was the 2011 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, where she was seeded seventh. She defeated World No. 7 Samantha Stosur 6–2 6–4 to take home the title, marking her biggest clay-court victory to date. With this, Sharapova overtakes Stosur as the World No. 7, her highest position since November, 2008.
Sharapova's next tournament was at the second grand slam of the year, the 2011 Roland Garros where she was seeded 7th. She defeated 15th seed Andrea Petkovic 6–0, 6–3 in the quarter-finals, marking her first grand slam semi-finals since her comeback from the career-threatening shoulder injury. She then struggled to play in the strong winds, making a myriad of unforced errors and double faults on her way to a loss to 6th seed and eventual champion Li Na 4–6, 5–7 in the semi-finals, subsequently ending her clay season with a win-loss of 12–2. This marks her most successful clay season to date. In addition, due to the semi-final appearance at Roland Garros, Sharapova moved up to World No. 6 for her highest position since November, 2008.
Sharapova comitted to the 2011 AEGON Classic in Birmingham, UK to open up her grass season campaign, where she would have been seeded 1st. However, after her loss at the 2011 Roland Garros, she withdrew from the AEGON Classic, citing illness.
Sharapova then participated at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships where she was seeded 5th. She had not dropped a set in the tournament entering the final, where she beat compatriot Anna Chakvetadze, Laura Robson, Klara Zakopalova, 20th seed Shuai Peng, 24th seed Dominika Cibulkova and resurgent Sabine Lisicki along the way. She then lost to 8th seed Petra Kvitová in straight sets, 3–6, 4–6. With this result, Sharapova moved up to World No. 5 which is the highest position she has reached since her comeback from her shoulder injury. It is also her highest position since the 2008 US Open.
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