Maria Szarapowa

[Lucas]

#35) Rzym 2015

• R64 BYE
  R32 Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) 6-2 3-1 RET
  R16 [Q] Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 6-3 6-3
  Q Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 6-3 6-2
  S [Q] Daria Gavrilova (RUS) 7-5 6-3
  F [10] Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 4-6 7-5 6-1

[Lucas]

[Lucas]

Back to work for in-form Sharapova

Spoiler:

Maria Sharapova radiated health and vitality as she faced the media on Saturday ahead of her 13th Wimbledon campaign.

Fresh from an ESPN shoot, she looked relaxed, exchanging banter with the media as she took her seat.

Just a few weeks ago, it was a far different story.

“I was hoping I could play a warm-up tournament leading up to [Wimbledon]. But due to the circumstances, the way I was feeling, actually I had to go back home and do some tests, run through all that,” she revealed.

“It took a little while for me to really refresh and recover and give myself just a chance to feel good again and get back to work. I planned on going to Florida. But then I needed to do a few things back in California for my health.”


Tennis fans will remember Sharapova’s sickly run through the Roland Garros draw last month, which ended in the fourth round at the hands of Lucie Safarova.

But having been given the green light to prepare for the tournament that catapulted her to stardom when she won it as a teen back in 2004, she has forged ahead.

“It was great to be able to be on the court and not have to cough or blow my nose a hundred times and all those things,” she said.

“It's been a really good 10 days. To finally have that energy, I think that's quite important as an athlete. Despite not playing an event, I've played a few practice matches, played a practice match in Eastbourne. It's been going well so far.”

Many thought that the floodgates would open for Sharapova at Wimbledon following her first title on the lawns of the All England Club. Yet as she scored success at all the other majors around the world – New York in 2006, Melbourne in 2008 and Paris in 2012 and 2014 – another victory in SW19 has proven elusive.


Not that Sharapova is bemoaning her relative lack of success here since then.

In fact, she arrives at The Championships nowadays with a different outlook to when she was a teenager, mostly due to a career-threatening shoulder injury seven years ago, which took a mammoth rehabilitative and mental effort to overcome.

"To still be competing at Wimbledon all these years later – and having held aloft the trophy – is nothing but a blessing.

“I understand or I see things a little bit differently [since] 2008 than I saw it before as far as my expectations and the reality, I guess how I feel after tough matches or losing,” she said.

“I think when you're out of the game for a while, you're really given that chance to think how fortunate you are when you feel that you just had a bad practice, and actually it's great to just have a bad practice, whereas I was not practicing at all.”

Thankfully, the practice this year coming into Wimbledon has been of the better variety, and it is form she hopes to continue against soaring Brit Johanna Konta in round one. Konta, a quarter-finalist in Nottingham and Eastbourne and who has won six of her past nine grass court matches, presents as a tough prospect for the Russian.

“We never played against each other before. That's always tricky in the first round of a Grand Slam,” Sharapova said. “Saw a couple of her matches in Eastbourne last week where she had a good result in between my practices. That was good to have a little bit of a look at her game, see how she plays.”


Yet it is physical health, rather than Konta, that is primarily occupying the No.4 seed’s mind.

And with a forgettable French Open behind her, a more favourable fortnight at Wimbledon is taking shape.

“Once I got healthy and kind of got the green light to just start training, that was my goal,” she said.

“Going through that, it's been a great last couple of weeks.”

http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/art ... apova.html

[Lucas]

Maria Szarapowa: Gdybym była Brytyjką, byłabym teraz pewnie na nagłówkach wszystkich gazet

Spoiler:

Po porażce z Sereną Williams Maria Szarapowa pożegnała się z Wimbledonem w półfinale, pierwszym na kortach All England Clubu od 2011 roku. Jednak Rosjanka uważa ten wynik za rozczarowujący.
Czwartkowy mecz był 20. pojedynkiem pomiędzy Marią Szarapową a Sereną Williams. Rosjanka pokonała Amerykankę zaledwie dwukrotnie, a ostatniego seta przeciwko niej zdobyła przed dwoma laty w Miami. - Zdaję sobie sprawę z faktu, że Serena specjalnie motywuje się mecze ze mną czy Azarenką. Zawsze spodziewam się tego, że zagra w nich najlepiej jak potrafi. Wiem, że aby z nią wygrać, muszę do swojego tenisowego maksimum dodać coś jeszcze. Dzisiaj mi się to nie udało - przyznała na pomeczowej konferencji prasowej.

W tym roku minęło 11 lat od kiedy Szarapowa triumfowała w Wimbledonie: - Kariera każdego tenisisty zmierza w innym kierunku. Wszyscy uważają zwycięstwo w Wimbledonie za prawdziwy początek mojej. Byłam wtedy bardzo młoda, dlatego teraz wygląda to na bardzo rozległe w czasie.
W chwili pokonania Sereny w wielkim finale na kortach All England Clubu, Rosjanka miała 17 lat. - W okresie, kiedy powinnam być w szczycie formy, zmagałam się z kontuzją ramienia. Oczywiście, gdybym miała na to wpływ, chciałabym być wtedy zdrowa i po wygranej w Australian Open sięgnąć po kolejne tytuły, ale tak bywa. My, sportowcy, musimy czasem przejść przez kompletnie inną historię niż zakładaliśmy, to normalne - dodała.
- Porażki nigdy nie są łatwe do przełknięcia, szczególnie te w Wimbledonie. Patrząc z perspektywy gdzie byłam kilka tygodni temu, kiedy kompletnie nie wiedziałam jak tutaj się spiszę, to rzeczywiście może być dobry wynik. Gdybym była Brytyjką, byłabym teraz pewnie na nagłówkach wszystkich gazet. Ale ja przystępuję do każdego turnieju z nastawieniem odniesienia w nim triumfu, więc ten rezultat mnie zawiódł. Szczególnie, że wiem, że wciąż jestem zdolna by w tych zawodach zwyciężać - przyznała pięciokrotna mistrzyni Wielkiego Szlema.

http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/53314 ... h-wszystki

[Lucas]

SHARAPOVA & SERENA AMONG MOST MARKETABLE

Spoiler:

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are the Top 2 players on the WTA Rankings, and they're the Top 2 most marketable female athletes in the world, too, according to the London School Of Marketing.

The list looks at prize money earnings and payments for endorsements. Williams and Sharapova are the two highest-earning players in WTA history, Williams currently topping the list with $72,679,094, and Sharapova in second place with $35,821,151. They both have incredible sponsorship portfolios, too, including Nike, Head and Porsche for Sharapova and Nike, Wilson and Gatorade for Williams.

They've both become major forces in the business world, too. Sharapova's ventures include Sugarpova and apparel lines with Nike and Cole Haan, while Williams has lines with both Nike and HSN.

Check out Williams and Sharapova's on-court apparel and racquets at Tennis Warehouse!

Sharapova comes in at No.12 on the London School Of Marketing list while Williams is No.20.

Check out the full list here - five ATP World Tour stars feature on the list as well:

1. Roger Federer (tennis)
2. Tiger Woods (golf)
3. Phil Mickelson (golf)
4. LeBron James (basketball)
5. Kevin Durant (basketball)
6. Rory McIlroy (golf)
7. Novak Djokovic (tennis)
8. Rafael Nadal (tennis)
9. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (cricket)
10. Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer)
11. Kobe Bryant (basketball)
12. Maria Sharapova (tennis)
13. Lionel Messi (soccer)
14. Usain Bolt (track)
15. Neymar (soccer)
16. Andy Murray (tennis)
17. Kei Nishikori (tennis)
18. Derrick Rose (basketball)
19. Floyd Mayweather (boxing)
20. Serena Williams (tennis)

http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/4 ... marketable

[Lucas]

MARIA SHARAPOVA BECAME NO.1 10 YEARS AGO

Spoiler:

Everybody talks about the incredible longevity of Serena Williams, but she's not the only WTA megastar with mega staying power. On Monday, August 22, 2005, Maria Sharapova rose to No.1 for the first time, and amazingly, today, exactly 10 years later, she's ranked No.2.

The 12-month period that led to Sharapova's rise to No.1 didn't even include her breakthrough first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2004, but it did include six WTA titles, most notably the WTA Finals, where she famously rallied from 4-0 down in the third set to beat Williams for the championship.

And by rising to No.1 at age 18 years, 4 months and 3 days, Sharapova is the fifth-youngest player ever to rise to No.1, after fellow teens Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Tracy Austin and Steffi Graf.

The first Russian No.1, Sharapova has spent her 21 career weeks at the top spot in five separate stints - three short stints in 2005, another stint in 2007 and, most recently, four more weeks in 2012.

And she could easily have racked up more than 21 career weeks at No.1. She's been ranked No.2, right within striking distance of the top spot, a whopping 164 weeks in her career, including this week.

But for now, let's celebrate the crowning moment of a true tennis megastar: Maria Sharapova.

http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/4 ... -years-ago

[Lucas]

SHARAPOVA WITHDRAWS FROM US OPEN

Unfortunately I will not be able to compete in this years US Open. I have done everything possible to be ready but it was just not enough time. To all my amazing fans, I will be back in the Asian swing in a few weeks and look forward to finishing the year healthy and strong

Spoiler:

Sharapova's last tournament came at Wimbledon, where she made it to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Serena Williams. She injured her leg right before the Rogers Cup in Toronto and Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, forcing her to withdraw from both Premier 5-level tournaments.

Sharapova will be directly replaced in the draw by 18-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina, a lucky loser into the draw. Kasatkina will play Sharapova's original opponent, WTA Rising Star Daria Gavrilova.

About 45 minutes after making the announcement, Sharapova posted a message on her official website, mariasharapova.com, which she wrote in the car after her practice session earlier in the day.

"I don't want to get up from this chair, but I know this is the end of my US Open campaign... In the meantime, let's celebrate what we already have and now what we are missing," Sharapova wrote.

"New York City, this wasn't my year but I will be back!"

http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/4 ... om-us-open

[Jacques D.]

Może i mało ostatnio Maria gra, ale...

Spoiler:

[Jacques D.]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWzIq2f ... g&index=14[/youtube]

[Barty]

Wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1. rundzie Australian Open 2016

Spoiler:

Maria Sharapova def Nao Hibino 6-1 6-3

Q. First match of the season for you. Pleased with that effort?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah. I guess I am. It was just nice to get on court and face the opportunity of playing a first match. No matter how much you train, it's always different when you walk out onto the court. Definitely a relief to get that first one out of the way, yeah.

Q. Are there extra nerves after such a layoff, after the injuries, all of that stuff?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, there's always a little bit of nerves, sometimes more, sometimes less, going into any Grand Slam, but especially when it's your first tournament of the season. Just a different feeling. I try not to focus so much on the opponent or the atmosphere and just really focus on myself and try to bring the positives of a good training week, just try to execute that, yeah, keep it simple.

Q. What were you particularly pleased about today in your game, and to the extent there was any rust, where were you feeling it most?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I felt like I adjusted quite well to the conditions, although you don't really notice it. There's quite a breeze going to one side. I think just moving your feet, I definitely started moving back a little too much towards the end of the second set. I wasn't as aggressive as I was during the whole match. That gave her a chance to get back in the points.

Overall I could have returned better. Served quite well, yeah.

Q. Today there are a lot of discussions and debates about this match fixing story that came out. Of course, people like you who are top 100 or 10 or so were never in the position to survive getting fixed matches. What do you think? Do you think it exists at the minor level, when someone has to stay from 120 to 180 for five, six years, having to pay maybe a coach, transportation?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, honestly, I really hope not. I mean, to me the sport itself has always meant a lot more than money. I know that the more successful you are and the more matches you win, the more prize money, the more money you will receive.

But ultimately that's never been my personal driving factor in the sport. There's just so much more on the line. There's the competitiveness. There's the challenge of being better. There's playing in front of thousands of people, playing you against somebody across the net and you trying to win that match.

When you're out there, it's not about money.

Q. What I'm asking is, when you are not a player of your standard, playing in front of thousands of people.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't think it really matters what level you are. The sport itself is meaningful. It's our career. It's our job. I mean, I guess I can only speak for myself, but we want to succeed at it by improving, by getting better, by beating our own best, and not by anything else.

That's how I would hope everyone else would think, as well. Make it a better and more competitive sport.

Q. We have the situation where tennis, to its great credit, asks players at all levels not to be involved in gambling. Yet our leading organizations go out and get their own money, so to speak, but getting sponsorships from Betway and other companies. Players aren't willing to say that's a bad thing.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I personally don't understand that. It's not that I'm for or against it. As you know, I've had many great opportunities to work with great brands in my career. That's just not a direction that I've ever followed. I don't even know if I've had the chance, because I know my management would shut that down very fast. It's so far away from any of my interests, everything I want to be a part of and the people I want to work with. It has to be true and real. That's just not something I would ever associate myself with.

Q. My question is, with all respect, do you think in terms of the sporting public out there, do you think it's a problem to have signage and sponsors that say betting?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not in their seat. I'm not in the organization's seat. It's tough for me to speak about it.

Q. There's been quite a good amount of young Russian success today. Obviously there's the whole generation with you, along with Sveta, Dementieva. All of you were ruling the top 10 for a while. After Pavlyuchenkova there's maybe a little bit of a lull. There weren't a lot of Russian players coming through. Now we have this crew coming through. Do you have an opinion as to why there might be that bit of a lull?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think we had a pretty incredible run. I mean, to have Anastasia win the French, me winning Wimbledon, and when you had the Olympic podium of three Russian girls standing up there, it was a huge moment for the country and that sport. There's bound to be a moment where you don't have that, or especially the youth.

But as for any country, I think it's never an overnight development. Just because you're successful for a certain period of time from a country, doesn't mean there's a younger generation coming up right behind them that's expected and mandatory to do well. That's just not the way things work. It takes time, takes experience, takes financial help. This sport is expensive. It takes a lot of the right directions, coaches, infrastructure, everything.

Q. Is it cool for you to see this group coming through?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It was nice. One of the young girls that I believe is playing against Petkovic right now, she's wearing my collection and just started this year. I definitely keep an eye on the younger generation. These are the girls that are going to follow us. Ultimately somebody will take your place, so...

Q. Today your opponent said you are the one reason for her to start playing tennis. You are her idol. She still has three posters of you in her room.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: She's got to take those off (laughter). It's time to put her posters up there.

Q. Can you give her any comments or advice?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, actually I hadn't heard much about her, hadn't seen too much of her game before I went on court today. I just saw a couple of videos, spoke to Sven about her game, who saw her watch a couple games on video.

She actually likes the pace, takes the pace quite well. For a first Grand Slam performance, I thought she was there till the end. That's impressive. She never let in, never gave up. I mean, experience is priceless for anyone, but especially someone that's just starting out in a Grand Slam experience.

So I'm sure she'll have a great future ahead of her.

Q. In terms of Sharapova and Friends, the event in December, what was the most surprising element of it and would you consider doing it again?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, it was fun when it was over because I was so nervous about the whole thing. It was tough to actually have fun during it because I wanted to make sure that everyone had a really good experience, from the players to the sponsors.

Yes, we have actually -- all the sponsors were very happy. Everyone seems to be in for the next run already, so that's a good sign.

Yeah, I would like to do it at a little bit of a different date because it's quite cold in California during that time. I wouldn't want anyone to go through watching tennis for five hours in 50-degree weather.

I'm sure the date will change, I'm not sure when yet, but we'll definitely continue.

Q. Was there any fun with, I don't know, Andy or the talent?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: We had some fun moments the night before it started because some of the girls came over to my place, we had a food truck come over and had a little bit of a bowling party. That was fun.

Q. Your biography will come out next year. Have you started to think about it and talked to people about helping you writing the book?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I have started writing the book.

Q. By yourself?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I'm working with a writer, and I'm writing myself. Yeah, I think that's one of the reasons it will take a little bit longer because I want to write a lot of it myself. I'm working with Rich Cohen, who is a tremendous writer. He's kind of a fly-on-the-wall guy, very discreet, incredible writing.

I was in New York working with him for a little bit after Fed Cup. He came up in my off-season to work together a little bit. So, yeah, I have started. Going to take my time. Not going to talk about it much just because I want the book to do the talking. But I'm really excited about it.

I've always loved to write. Something that's been a passion of mine from a young age. I'll also be sharing some of my journals as a young girl.

Q. Was it fun to think about things that happened 15 years ago?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, that's been really interesting and scary at the same time. It's amazing how life goes by, and sometimes to be able to recollect those memories is very interesting. I've been speaking to my grandparents, my father and my mother a lot, recording the conversations. I feel like a reporter in a way. That's been really interesting.

Sometimes I need to stop because I would be going to bed and being like blown away by some of the stories that I hear.

Q. Pete Sampras just wrote a wonderful article.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I saw it. It was during Wimbledon, right?

Q. Not sure about that. But it was a wonderful article.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Did he write it?

Q. It sounded like his voice to me.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I loved it. I loved the writing.

Q. My question is, if you could write a note to the teenage Maria Sharapova, what would you say?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Have to wait for my book. I don't know (laughter).

That's a loaded question. I think one of the things is when you're young, you're always trying to go about your career, your personal life, without making mistakes and without making errors. I feel like I've grown so much from making errors and from making mistakes, whether losing matches or other things.

I think when you're able to turn those somewhat negative moments in your life, turn them into something meaningful, ultimately it becomes much more powerful.

Q. That's like a problem-solving management also in terms of your life?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I don't know about problem solving. I guess it's some sort of advice.

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/inter ... 80116.html

[Barty]

Wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3. rundzie Australian Open 2016

Spoiler:

Maria Sharapova def Lauren Davis

Q. Did that perhaps end up being a little bit more difficult than it needed to be?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I felt like I made it a little bit more difficult than I should have. I definitely had a letup at 2-1, 30-Love. You know, felt like I was hitting the ball well, doing the right things to get in that position, then let up. In a Grand Slam environment against anyone you can't expect to get away with it, and I didn't in the second set.

But overall really happy with how I came out in the third and stepped up, considering it's been, you know, many weeks since I've been in that position. So I was happy with the way I finished.

I think I can take a lot of good things from that.

Q. 600 career wins. Is that a difficult number to get your head around?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Not very difficult (smiling). I've faced much more difficult things. But I think it's a proud number. I've played for many years. I don't think about those numbers until I finish the match and someone does mention it. I think it's a good fact that I've been able to win that many matches.

But overall it's not constantly on my mind, how many matches I've won in my career.

Q. You must remember your first win, though. Got to remember that. A little younger.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Was it in Palm Springs?

Q. Yeah, a long time ago.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well (laughter). I'm going to pretend like I'm smarter than that. Was it against Samantha Reeves? I remember that match because I got smoked by Monica after that. It's a great memory.

Q. Do you ever think to yourself, My goodness, I've been doing this for a very long time?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, well, I have. I have been doing it for a long time. That's a fact. But there's nothing else that I'd rather do right now than keep doing that. I think if I think about it like that, like, Oh, I've been around the block, I've been to all these tournaments so many times, that would seem quite heavy, not really motivate me much.

You always have to find new inspirations and new goals, find things that really get you going in the morning.



Q. Through to the second week. Can you just assess the first week, in general? What did you think of it?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's Friday. I mean, I don't really categorize each week. I just go by matches. You know, as I assess this match, I thought I did a good job of just doing the right things in the first two matches. And today, even though I definitely let up in some moments in the second set, I thought I had a really good attitude in the third set. That's something I can take away. Although I didn't play many matches, if I keep having that attitude, I'm sure I'll get the chances and opportunities.

Q. Belinda Bencic next. What are your thoughts?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, an impressive player. A newer generation that's already established herself in the past season, beaten a lot of top players. It's a tough fourth round. We haven't played against each other before, but I'm sure we'll be playing many times. It's great that we can start here.

Q. Kind of a tough question. 600 matches. If you could change one or two, which would it be?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't like to change things. I think every match, every situation happens for a reason. It's all part of everyone's life and journey. I never think about changing things.

Q. How do you work to find a balance in your career, listening to people in your team and in your personal life, that influence you or guide you as you go about this journey?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, well (laughter). Yeah, well, gosh, I've had many different people in my life. Ultimately my parents are kind of the two, you know, rocks that have really guided me in so many incredible directions.

You know, my father paved this career for me that I just keep following. You know, he just really opened the door to my dream. I'm just kind of living it. My mother opened up the world to me culturally, educationally. So I got very different things from both of them.

And the people that have come and gone in my life at different times, I've learned a lot. I've had many different teams and coaches that have contributed a lot to my success.

Now I feel like I have a team that, you know, we're all very close to each other, get along. We have a leader, but then everyone else does extremely well to contribute to everything that needs to be done. So, yeah.

Q. You have a lot of off-court pursuits, too. How do you keep that in balance with your tennis, make sure that priorities are in the right place?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think that just comes personally. I don't think anyone needs to tell me what's more important to me. I think everybody sees it and feels it. I don't think I would have the team around me if they didn't see that from me because they know I could be doing so many other things, and they could be, as well.

I don't think it's fair for me to have this team around me that do so much for you on a daily basis to help you win championships and not be committed to what you're doing. I think that would be really wrong from my end.

Q. Do you think it's easy for all players to get that balance right?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't think it's easy, no. I think it's something that you work on, that you develop with time. I mean, I think after I won Wimbledon, I had many opportunities, many invitations. I was never very comfortable with it in the beginning. I had to learn what I was comfortable with and what I wanted to be part of or participate in, or the people I wanted to work with, and not.

But it all came from me. You know, it didn't come from anyone else. Even though I got support and guidance and a person that could say no when it wasn't my place to say no, yeah.

Q. Given how long you have been on the tour, how do you keep yourself fresh and inspired every day?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I mean, no, I really love what I do. Although I'd love to sit on the beach and read a book and drink margaritas, after a few days I get bored. I know, especially when I miss a couple of weeks, I'm away with injury, I get back on the court, it's funny, those first few moments where you feel a bit rusty, but the feeling of hitting the ball, even though you're not playing points, when that comes back to me, I'm like, This is what I love to do. There's no better feeling, so...

Q. You run a company where flavors are a big deal. You gave a big shout out to Melbourne coffee. Talk about coffee houses around the world.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I'm a big foody. I love to eat. I love to explore new restaurants. The food culture has always been an interest of mine. That's something whenever I go to a new city I like to kind of experience different foods, find different cafes.

The cafes here and coffee places are really up to par, they're really good.

Q. Talking about the food, did you know Lauren Davis was eating peanut butter during a break?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I didn't. I didn't have time to check (smiling).

Q. Have you ever noticed weird stuff that your opponents were doing during your match before?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I actually rarely look at what my opponents are doing.

Q. When you were young, when you were one of the younger ones on the tour, did you feel young or you had such a journey, did it make you feel like an old soul? Do you only in a way feel your youth from that period in retrospect when you see these young kids coming up and see yourself in them?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think this is the time where you say age is just a number (laughter).

Yeah, well, I mean, I guess you feel young when you're coming up on the tour, you're playing your first Grand Slams, you're playing your first big tournaments. You get through rounds that people don't expect you to, then you end up winning a Grand Slam at a young age, and then you follow it up with another one.

I don't know. I just know that when I was probably 18, 19 years old, I mean, first of all, I never thought that I'd miss a year when I'm 21 and thought that I was at the peak of my career, thought I was playing some of my best tennis, so that was kind of a big hurdle, a big question mark, I never thought that I'd be playing at this age, honestly.

I was born, my mother was very young. I thought I would, I mean, not have kids at 20, but I would have children at this point. When you're younger, that's what I envisioned because that's what my family had. You always look to family traditions. At 28 years old, I'm healthy and look forward to playing for many years.

Age is a relative number. It's something that, of course, at one point you do think, Oh, what will happen after this career? But, yeah, that's not something I think about right now.

Q. How do you decide what to eat?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No laundry questions? You covered that. Thanks for making that the headline on USA Today. Clearly there were no greater topics at that time.

Q. Eating on court, what is that decision process like?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's pretty basic. I have like an energy bar and I have a gel that I take maybe every 20 to 30 minutes on court, then a drink, like a sports drink. Kept it pretty much the same throughout my career.

Q. Bananas?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't do bananas anymore. Why is that funny?

Q. There's a video of Roger Federer reacting to the tiebreak in this match today. He was getting really animated.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Who is that?

Q. Roger Federer.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: What video?

Q. There's a video of Roger Federer in the gym before your match, reacting to your match, the fact that it went to three sets. I wonder what it's like when you're waiting for matches and the match goes on for longer, what is the overriding feeling? Are you cursing the players?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I'm usually pretty relaxed about it. I don't watch too much right before I go on because I'm usually warming up, or my coach usually tells me the score. Then if it ends up going an extra set... But there's been many times in my career where I've had to start and stop the warmup process. That's the unique thing about tennis, most of the time you never have a set schedule, set time you play. Those adjustments are really important.

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/inter ... 20116.html

[Barty]

Wywiad po zwycięstwie w 4. rundzie Australian Open 2016

Spoiler:

Maria Sharapova def Belinda Bencic 7-5 7-5

Q. What gives you more satisfaction? A crisp, clean win or a battle like that?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: A crisp win, as in...

Q. As in, you know, straightforward win, very few games, or a real tough kicker like that.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I think you take everything that you can get. I mean, I felt like there was a few ups and downs in the beginning after not taking some of my chances.

I think it was really easy for me just to go away and let her run with the first set, and I'm glad I didn't. I'm glad I was still there and kept motivating myself to try to open up some more doors and finally breakthrough. I was definitely hesitant on some of those points.

But overall, yeah, felt like a quality match. Yeah.

Q. Some great serves at the right time. Do you think it made the difference today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I thought I served quite well; I found my spots; hit the line many times today. That was important.



Q. I know you served quite well, also some unforced errors. What exactly was going on for you on court?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Can you rephrase that question, please?

Q. Some great serving and also some unforced errors.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Were there any winners? (Laughter.)

Q. There was quite a few. Just saying like...
MARIA SHARAPOVA: If you could paint the whole picture for me first, and then...

Q. Just seems like there was a mixed bag.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah.

Q. How do you fix that for the next match, I guess?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I felt like I had to be aggressive. I'm an aggressive player. But there is a difference between making the wrong errors and making the right errors.

I feel like, yeah, I made errors. I went sometimes for a little bit too much. But I think the difference is sometimes you're making errors, but you feel like you're doing the right thing.

Ultimately when the time comes, you have to believe that those errors are just, you know, a few centimeters wide or long that they're going to start going in.

Q. The other day I think 16 aces; 21 aces today, which is a career high for you. Have you been working on the serve? How happy are you with it?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Have I been working... I feel like that's something I have been working on a lot since I had shoulder surgery. I have gone through many different motions to try to find my groove again and something that would hold up over many matches.

That was something that was really difficult to find a rhythm and a balance between keeping the shoulder, not going back so much, because I'm quite loose, to a motion that kind of gave me the chance to play many matches and feel like I was still not able not to be tired after three, four tough matches.

So, yeah, I think I have made a little bit of a change last year in the stance, but I think everyone always tries to improve things here and there. It's not that big of a deal. We always look to add those few percentages.

Q. What did you think of her game? We saw a lot of young players coming through the years. Do you think this one could be the real deal?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I think she's already proven that. She's beaten a lot of top players; she's won titles already. She's not coming up; she's already there, pretty much.

Yeah, she has a good game. You know, a lot of people compared her to Martina Hingis, actually, but I thought from being on the other side that her game was quite different. Maybe the same technical aspects, but the way that she plays is quite different.

She does take the ball early. She has a few patterns that she likes, which was nice to finally play against her to kind of recognize those.

But, yeah, overall, I mean, I don't need to tell you that. I think her results in the past have spoken for themselves.

Q. Likely Serena Williams up next. How do you put away, out of your mind, those recent losses and her record against you? Do you just completely forget about it or look back and think, How do I do better? How do you approach it?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Absolutely. It's not like I think about what I can do worse. You're always trying to -- always trying to improve. I got myself into the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam. There is no reason I shouldn't be looking to improve and to getting my game in a better position than any other previous round. It's only going to be tougher, especially against Serena.

Q. The other opponent out there, she got the lucky loser spot for you in Brisbane, and here she's in the fourth round. Do you know much about her? Fellow Russian.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I haven't seen her play too much. I saw a little bit. Did she play Errani the first round?

Q. Yes.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I saw a few points of that on the television.

But other than that, haven't seen her game, but it looks like I should be watching. For a lot of the other Russian girls, they have had a good, solid week here.

Q. Have you ever had a match end on a challenge like that?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't think so. I mean, the challenge system has been going on for quite some time, but if I have, I remember once maybe in Cincinnati against Jankovic something happened with match point, maybe a challenge. But I think this one obviously in a Grand Slam environment is a little bit different.

Q. You have been serving very well. 21 aces I think today. Is this something you're doing different on the serve or just a matter of executing better?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Just felt like I just answered that question. Were you here a few minutes ago? Did you just come in?

Q. Yeah.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: That's okay. I mean, there will be a transcript, hopefully. I don't know.

Yeah, I served quite well today. Got myself out of trouble with the serve and on a few of those break points, and had a good serving performance in the last match, as well. Yeah.

Q. When Hawk-Eye came in, do you remember a discussion that there shouldn't be a challenge on match point? Do you remember that discussion?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't, actually, no.

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/inter ... 40116.html

[Lucas]

Wywiad po przegranym ćwierćfinale AO16

Spoiler:

Q. Tough match today. Your thoughts about how it went, what went wrong?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, you know, she played quite explosive. Thought at times, you know, when I got in the rally I wasn't moving forward, wasn't cutting the angles off enough.

She got herself back in the points. She was really explosive off the return. Yeah.

Serena Williams def Maria Sharapova 6-4 6-1

26 January, 2016
Maria Sharapova listens to a question during her press conference, 16 January 2016.
Q. Tough match today. Your thoughts about how it went, what went wrong?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, you know, she played quite explosive. Thought at times, you know, when I got in the rally I wasn't moving forward, wasn't cutting the angles off enough.

She got herself back in the points. She was really explosive off the return. Yeah.



Q. Looking back on the match, is there much you think you could have done differently? Tight first set.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I mean, I feel like if it was 5-All, I mean, the momentum would have been a little bit different than going into where she played a really great beginning of the second set.

You know, I think at 5-All maybe the mentality of her confidence would have changed a little bit. But, you know, she returned really well on those deuce points. Really got me on the back foot, yeah.

Q. You mentioned her confidence. She got off to a fairly slow start in the first set. What were your thoughts when you saw that? Why weren't you able to keep that gap that you had early on?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It was a 2-0 gap, so I'm not sure it's...

Q. It's something.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Absolutely. But the match is still two-out-of-three. It's not about the first point or a point in the middle. It's really about the last point, so...

Q. Did you feel that your level kind of dropped at the beginning of the second set? Especially after the doctor came out, people weren't sure where her form would be.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: In the beginning of the second set?

Q. Yes.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think she served four pretty big serves. I don't know if that really affected her too much in the first game.

Q. Did you feel like your level dropped at all at that point?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think in that return game, I don't know if there was much I could do. She was finding the lines and the spots. I mean, I think I have to look at that second game a little bit more closely than her first couple service games, because I thought she served really well in the beginning of the second set.

Q. What do you feel you have to do to your game to just get rid of this whole previous record against Serena? Must be something you can do.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, keep setting opportunities. Keep getting to the point where I have an opportunity to play against her. Keep finding a way to turn that around. If I don't have that chance then I don't have the opportunity to try something different.

Q. Did you feel at all the conditions were different? Your last two or three matches have been under the roof. It was pretty hot out there and an outdoor match.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I guess, of course it's quite different after I played three -- first I played a night match, then I played three matches under the roof. It's a completely different environment and situation.

As far as the heat, I felt quite well. I didn't feel that that affected me very much, which is good. I've been practicing here for a while and had some really warm days.

Physically, even though I didn't feel we had that many long rallies, I still felt pretty good energy-wise.

Q. What are your plans between now and Indian Wells?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm going to go and take care of my forearm first. I think that's really important. I'm going to go to Moscow, be part of the team. I don't think I'll be playing. Then I'm not sure.

But I think this will be a time to just get myself ready for a long year. I don't see myself playing anything before Indian Wells.

Q. You had 21 aces in the previous match. When you play Serena, do you think you have more pressure on your shoulders so you serve a little worse, or it's because she returns better, she reads your serve better? What do you think is the reason?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think if you're serving maybe 180 against somebody else compared to Serena, that's an ace. Against Serena, as we all know, the return is one of her great strengths. She's very explosive. She stays quite close to the baseline. She cuts the ball early. She doesn't give you many angles.

That's the reason I can't get so many free points against her.

Q. How frustrating is it to not be able to break through against Serena?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, it's obviously always frustrating. I mean, it's motivating. It's tough to sit here 30 minutes after the match and talk about the match, but that's part of my job.

It's motivating because she's at a different level. She makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players. She makes you work. That's inspiring.

Q. Do you think she can be beaten for the rest of the tournament?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not sure. I don't know. That's why they're going to play the matches, to see if that happens or not.

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/inter ... 60116.html

[Lucas]

Maria Sharapova retirement speculation after tennis star calls press conference to make 'major announcement'

Spoiler:

Maria Sharapova has called a press conference scheduled for Monday night in which she will make a “major announcement” according to her management, fuelling speculation that she could be about to retire from professional tennis due to the string of injuries she has suffered in recent years.

Sharapova has struggled throughout 2016 with an injury to her left forearm which hampered her campaign at the Australian Open in January, where she made a quarter-final exit at the hands of Serena Williams.

Sharapova has not competed since then, and was forced to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in California later this month having not recovered.

It’s believed that the 28-year-old could announce her retirement from the sport when she speaks at 8pm GMT tomorrow after a number of injuries have prevented her from playing regularly for several years, and she has only played in three events in the last eight months.

Sharapova has also developed a flourishing business model off the court, but while the press conference could yet prove to be her latest business venture, they are rarely billed as “major announcements” by her own team.

Speaking earlier this week, Sharapova said of her withdrawal from Indian Wells: “I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to compete in this year’s BNP Paribas Open.

“I have been focused on healing my left forearm injury and tried to get my body to be 100% ready to play this event, as it is one of my favourite events on the WTA and so close to my home in LA.”

However, the Russian did not hint at any sudden decision to end her career prematurely, and should she make such an announcement on Monday, the news would come as a huge shock to the sport.

Sharapova is one of the most recognisable names in women’s sport after she burst onto the scene by winning her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of just 17, becoming the third youngest Grand Slam winner after Lottie Dod and Martina Hingis.

High expectations immediately followed her teenage success, but she would have to wait two years before adding second Grand Slam success when she triumphed at the US Open in 2006, adding the Australian Open crown to her CV in 2008.

Sharapova was unable to win the French Open for quite some time though, but she completed the clean sweep when she was victorious at Roland Garros in 2012, and added a second French Open title in 2014 with a relentless march to the final which saw her beat Garbine Miguruza, Eugenie Bouachard and Simona Halep in succession.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tenn ... 15341.html

[DUN I LOVE]

Dzisiaj w LA ma spotkać się z mediami. Kończymy?

[COA]

Oj tam, zaraz kończymy, po prostu trochę ćpiemy.

http://www.sport.pl/tenis/1,64987,19732 ... T_1Zdjecie

[Jacuszyn]

Równie żałosne tłumaczenie co każdego innego sportowca złapanego na dopingu.

[Robertinho]

Trzeba zgłębić jak to działa. Dla chętnych.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meldonium

Jakoś wątpię, żeby przy jej stylu doping mógł pomóc. Zobaczymy, czy jest dokumentacja medyczna z lat terapii.

[Lleyton]

Ciekawe to wszystko.

[Mario]

Nic nie wiem na temat tej substancji i jej działania, ale prawdą jest, że swego czasu Szarapowa specjalizowała się w graniu >3 h spotkań, z których zdecydowaną większość wygrywała