The draw is out and Maria`s first opponent in Madrid is Arantxa Rus from Netherlands in 1st Round.
Maria is seeded No. 8 at this tournament and this is the first match between the two players.
GO MARIA !!!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Maria@Mutua Madrilena Open
The draw is out and Maria`s first opponent in Madrid is Arantxa Rus from Netherlands in 1st Round.
Maria is seeded No. 8 at this tournament and this is the first match between the two players.
GO MARIA !!!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Maria`s Chernobyl message
25 years ago today, my life changed forever and I was not even born yet!! I know that sound impossible, but when the worst nuclear disaster in the history of the world happened 40 miles from where my entire family lived, life changed for many families like mine. Soon after the disaster my mother became pregnant with little old me!!! My parents had to act fast because this was no place to be pregnant and have a baby. Luckily, my Grandparants were working in western Siberia and we fled to the city of Nyagan, where I was born. Two years later, my parents still did not want to bring me back near the disaster and we moved to Sochi, Russia. I started playing tennis at age 4 and I think everyone knows the story from there.
BUT!!! The story people don't know is what I want to focus on today. How one disaster completely effected one area in the world and how 25 years later it still haunts my people. But today I want to thank and remember all the great heroes and their families that sacrificed their lives to help people during this disaster. I want to focus on the future and give everyone hope in this region that they can live normal lives, and dream BIG. Please take the time to "click" around my special Chernobyl page on my site if you would like to learn more about Chernobyl and how you can help.
Maria
Text & Photo: http://www.mariasharapova.com/
GO MARIA !!!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Maria beats Dulko
Maria won the exhibition match in Bahamas against Gisela Dulko. She won in two sets: 6-3, 6-1.
Video:
GO MARIA !!!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Good to be back !
After great tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, Maria is back in Top 10 WTA, more precisely on the 9th place with 3726 points.
I always knew that she could return in Top 10 and now here it is. Good to be back, Maria !
GO MARIA !!!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Maria will not be present in Charleston
According to the official Twitter account of Family Circle Cup - Charleston, Maria will not be present this year in Charleston.
GO MARIA !!!
Interview after Final
Q. Obviously late start, but seemed like you really picked up the game in the second set. Victoria as well stayed tough, didn’t she?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it’s a little bit too late to pick up the pace when you’re down a set and 4 0. Yeah, I wish I picked it up earlier obviously. Against a player like her you have to have that level from the beginning or else she’s going to go with it and only get better. She’ll gain more confidence.
Yeah, she did many things better than I did today. She was the aggressive one. She returned better and did a lot of things better than I did.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it’s a little bit too late to pick up the pace when you’re down a set and 4 0. Yeah, I wish I picked it up earlier obviously. Against a player like her you have to have that level from the beginning or else she’s going to go with it and only get better. She’ll gain more confidence.
Yeah, she did many things better than I did today. She was the aggressive one. She returned better and did a lot of things better than I did.
Q. You’re only a couple years older, and yet it seems like there are some similarities to the point where she might have watched you modelled some stuff on you. Do you sense that you’re playing someone similar to you?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: She well, has an aggressive game. She goes for her groundstrokes. Yeah, there are certainly similarities. I don’t know if that’s because she watched me or that’s just the way her game is.
Yeah.
Q. You only managed to hold your serve once today. Was there any particular problem, or just it was an off day?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I mean, it was on off day on many parts of the game. I mean, there were many games when I was up in the game, 30 Love, 40 15, 40 Love, and didn’t hold serve. There were many games it was 30 All on her serve and I missed a return on, and that just takes away all the pressure from her. It gives her all the confidence in the world.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: She well, has an aggressive game. She goes for her groundstrokes. Yeah, there are certainly similarities. I don’t know if that’s because she watched me or that’s just the way her game is.
Yeah.
Q. You only managed to hold your serve once today. Was there any particular problem, or just it was an off day?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I mean, it was on off day on many parts of the game. I mean, there were many games when I was up in the game, 30 Love, 40 15, 40 Love, and didn’t hold serve. There were many games it was 30 All on her serve and I missed a return on, and that just takes away all the pressure from her. It gives her all the confidence in the world.
Q. At the beginning of this tournament you said about your expectation for the French Open.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: That I have expectations? What do you mean?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: That I have expectations? What do you mean?
Q. That you want to do well at Roland Garros.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Right.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Right.
Q. Can you explain a little bit more?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, you know, it’s a really exciting part of the year that’s coming up. I love the summer. I love starting on the clay. I feel like I learn a tremendous amount on it, and the game is long and interesting and teaches you a lot.
You know, the French is obviously the Grand Slam that I haven’t won, so I would love to compete there and do really well. I mean, that’s a goal of mine, no doubt about it.
Yeah, and then little by little get on the grass.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, you know, it’s a really exciting part of the year that’s coming up. I love the summer. I love starting on the clay. I feel like I learn a tremendous amount on it, and the game is long and interesting and teaches you a lot.
You know, the French is obviously the Grand Slam that I haven’t won, so I would love to compete there and do really well. I mean, that’s a goal of mine, no doubt about it.
Yeah, and then little by little get on the grass.
Q. You’ve gotten so much traction with your service return in some of these matches, yet today your serve wasn’t working.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, not at all.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, not at all.
Q. How did you feel about that?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You nailed it. I didn’t have much traction on it. I don’t know what that term means. You’re talking about the return. But, yeah, I was just making too many errors.
Like you said, I mean, when you have 15 30, 30 All, it’s just I mean, you got to go for it, but you got to make your opponent play. Just gives her all the confidence in the world.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You nailed it. I didn’t have much traction on it. I don’t know what that term means. You’re talking about the return. But, yeah, I was just making too many errors.
Like you said, I mean, when you have 15 30, 30 All, it’s just I mean, you got to go for it, but you got to make your opponent play. Just gives her all the confidence in the world.
Q. Semifinals Indian Wells, final here, back in the top 10. Do you still need that one big win to get your confidence so you can feel like, Okay, I can win slam again, or you feel like you’re there already?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Look, no matter if you win or lose, you always want to build your game and be better. That’s the way I look at it. I never want to feel satisfied. I don’t think that’s the right mentality to have.
I’m very, very happy that I’ve achieved this much in the last three, four weeks. If you saw me, I don’t know, ten weeks ago when I came back from Paris after pulling out then, I was in no shape or form to even play a tournament.
So it’s really amazing that I even achieved that. Like I said, I came into Indian Wells without a lot of expectations. I was sick for almost three weeks, and I got myself back in it.
You know, yeah, I’m proud of that. Definitely.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Look, no matter if you win or lose, you always want to build your game and be better. That’s the way I look at it. I never want to feel satisfied. I don’t think that’s the right mentality to have.
I’m very, very happy that I’ve achieved this much in the last three, four weeks. If you saw me, I don’t know, ten weeks ago when I came back from Paris after pulling out then, I was in no shape or form to even play a tournament.
So it’s really amazing that I even achieved that. Like I said, I came into Indian Wells without a lot of expectations. I was sick for almost three weeks, and I got myself back in it.
You know, yeah, I’m proud of that. Definitely.
Q. Have you made any changes in your equipment, particularly your strings because of your shoulder?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, well, I changed my racquet in November. I started playing with a Head, but not because of the shoulder.
And the string, I’ve changed my string a lot of times. Also depends on the weather. Sometimes when you go on clay maybe you feel like you need a little more pop. It changes.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, well, I changed my racquet in November. I started playing with a Head, but not because of the shoulder.
And the string, I’ve changed my string a lot of times. Also depends on the weather. Sometimes when you go on clay maybe you feel like you need a little more pop. It changes.
Q. Could you repeat what went through your mind when Vika hit those two nets in a row at 3 Love?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Sometimes that’s the way it goes. I mean, I could have been up and that could have happened. I was obviously down and that happened, so it doesn’t really help.
It’s just the situation that you’re in. What can you do about it? It’s a sport. There’s a net.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Sometimes that’s the way it goes. I mean, I could have been up and that could have happened. I was obviously down and that happened, so it doesn’t really help.
It’s just the situation that you’re in. What can you do about it? It’s a sport. There’s a net.
Q. Can you elaborate just a little bit more on the illness? What was wrong in those couple three weeks before Indian Wells?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I just got really sick. I had the flu. It was pretty bad. I got it in Moscow and then I went to Paris with it and then stayed there and then flew home and got an ear infection and all those things.
So it was a normal flu, but not that normal.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I just got really sick. I had the flu. It was pretty bad. I got it in Moscow and then I went to Paris with it and then stayed there and then flew home and got an ear infection and all those things.
So it was a normal flu, but not that normal.
Q. Normal/abnormal.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, just a long recovery process. I’m just saying I was not in a state like first day I went on the court, my coach knows it was just laughable. I just lost weight and I was so out of it. (Laughing.)
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, just a long recovery process. I’m just saying I was not in a state like first day I went on the court, my coach knows it was just laughable. I just lost weight and I was so out of it. (Laughing.)
Q. How many practice days did you miss?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Like almost three weeks, two and a half weeks. Like I was saying, I just didn’t really have many expectations going into Indian Wells I will.
But I did practice really hard going into these two tournaments once I got my energy back. I played some matches, hit a lot with Tommy Haas actually, so that was really fun.
Yeah, I had some good practices.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Like almost three weeks, two and a half weeks. Like I was saying, I just didn’t really have many expectations going into Indian Wells I will.
But I did practice really hard going into these two tournaments once I got my energy back. I played some matches, hit a lot with Tommy Haas actually, so that was really fun.
Yeah, I had some good practices.
Q. At the end of the first set you had a meeting with your coach. What do you and your coach talk about?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, yeah, he told me that I have to be the one that has to be aggressive from the first ball. When she has the opportunities to hit the first ball, that’s when she steps in and is at her best and she really dictates play.
Yeah, that’s pretty much it.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, yeah, he told me that I have to be the one that has to be aggressive from the first ball. When she has the opportunities to hit the first ball, that’s when she steps in and is at her best and she really dictates play.
Yeah, that’s pretty much it.
Q. So much was made of your shrieking early in your career. Did you feel like you met your match today on the court?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. I don’t really think about it when I play.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. I don’t really think about it when I play.
Q. Were you not aware of what’s going on at the other end that way?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. It’s about thinking what have to do.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. It’s about thinking what have to do.
Q. What does it mean to you to be back in the top 10?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, it means that I’m winning matches and winning more of them. It’s been a long road to get here. It’s not over yet, so, yeah, just keep going.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, it means that I’m winning matches and winning more of them. It’s been a long road to get here. It’s not over yet, so, yeah, just keep going.
Q. Do you feel like the women’s game is wide open with the Williamses gone, Justine quit, Kim’s back and forth and Caroline’s never won slam. Do you feel like it’s there to be had?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You can’t think like that. You have to have your own mindset. If you think you have a chance because someone’s not playing, that’s a weak mentality to have. I’m a competitor. I like playing against the best. I love playing against champions. It’s what makes it fun.
I mean, it’s what the game is all about.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You can’t think like that. You have to have your own mindset. If you think you have a chance because someone’s not playing, that’s a weak mentality to have. I’m a competitor. I like playing against the best. I love playing against champions. It’s what makes it fun.
I mean, it’s what the game is all about.
GO MARIA !!!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Too bad...
Maria lost the final in two sets: 1-6, 4-6. Look at the number of "Unforced Errors". Too many... too many...
GO MARIA !!!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Semifinal Interview
Q. In light of the week you’ve had and with the weather conditions today and she’s playing great, how satisfying is that win today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I’m really happy that I’m back in the finals here. I missed this tournament so many years. So to be back in the final and I started off really well in this tournament.
Almost lucky to be here. Had a tough one the other night and also a three setter today. She’s been playing the best tennis of her career and beat some good players here, so I was really happy I was able to change things around after losing the first set.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I’m really happy that I’m back in the finals here. I missed this tournament so many years. So to be back in the final and I started off really well in this tournament.
Almost lucky to be here. Had a tough one the other night and also a three setter today. She’s been playing the best tennis of her career and beat some good players here, so I was really happy I was able to change things around after losing the first set.
Q. She said that one of the things that makes you such a good champion is that you sense right away a weakness in the other player and basically you jump on that. She said that she felt that you sensed she was hesitating, whatever. Can you talk about that?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, to be honest, I felt like I was just making a lot errors in the first set and I wasn’t moving my feet at all. And especially with the wind I wasn’t moving towards the ball and letting the ball come to me and not really being aggressive. That’s what’s won me so many matches in my career is when I step in and I hit my strokes and they come deep. I just wasn’t doing that.
So first and foremost I felt like I had to start doing that and making little steps and adjusting my game a little bit. More than anything, I sensed that she was tired probably a lot of the dancing that she’s been doing and I took advantage of it.
Q. She thought you would be tired in the third after the long match you had the previous night. Didn’t seem to be that way.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Because I didn’t do the dance after. I wasn’t tired.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, to be honest, I felt like I was just making a lot errors in the first set and I wasn’t moving my feet at all. And especially with the wind I wasn’t moving towards the ball and letting the ball come to me and not really being aggressive. That’s what’s won me so many matches in my career is when I step in and I hit my strokes and they come deep. I just wasn’t doing that.
So first and foremost I felt like I had to start doing that and making little steps and adjusting my game a little bit. More than anything, I sensed that she was tired probably a lot of the dancing that she’s been doing and I took advantage of it.
Q. She thought you would be tired in the third after the long match you had the previous night. Didn’t seem to be that way.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Because I didn’t do the dance after. I wasn’t tired.
Q. It’s the steps, is it?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don’t know what it is. I just know that I won my match and I won it today again.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don’t know what it is. I just know that I won my match and I won it today again.
Q. Clearly you feel physically good, strong. You say you were hitting your groundstrokes pretty powerfully in the second and third set.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I started to. Yeah, I think that’s really important. I didn’t feel like I had in the beginning. I don’t think it was because of that. I think it was just because I was not moving that well. I knew that I had to make that adjustment, yeah.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I started to. Yeah, I think that’s really important. I didn’t feel like I had in the beginning. I don’t think it was because of that. I think it was just because I was not moving that well. I knew that I had to make that adjustment, yeah.
Q. Is that the best you’ve served in a while? You really picked it up in the second and third set.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I did. But I felt like in the first set I wasn’t returning or serving well, and that took the pressure away on her serve.
And even when she had second serve opportunities, she just had a lot of confidence. I didn’t take a lot of that out of the way.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I did. But I felt like in the first set I wasn’t returning or serving well, and that took the pressure away on her serve.
And even when she had second serve opportunities, she just had a lot of confidence. I didn’t take a lot of that out of the way.
Q. You were very dominate in the second set. Going into the third set, how did you feel? Did you feel there’s no way you could lose or this match is still up for grabs?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I wish I could feel like that. I would be overconfident if I felt like that. But it’s tricky, because you have to figure that it’s one set all. And although you just won the set 6 0, I still felt like we had a lot of deuce games, as much as we did in the first set, I just didn’t win them.
It was a matter of making sure that I was doing the same things that I did in order to change the match, to keep doing them and being consistent about that.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I wish I could feel like that. I would be overconfident if I felt like that. But it’s tricky, because you have to figure that it’s one set all. And although you just won the set 6 0, I still felt like we had a lot of deuce games, as much as we did in the first set, I just didn’t win them.
It was a matter of making sure that I was doing the same things that I did in order to change the match, to keep doing them and being consistent about that.
Q. Seems like the Russian women were really dominating the game five years ago, and that’s changed lately. You may meet Vera in the final. Will that be exciting?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, absolutely. Another girl is from Belarus as well. So all from the same region, I guess. But, yeah, we had a lot of great results from our country many years ago, like you said, so it obviously would be great to play Vera. We haven’t faced each other for a while, so, yeah, it would be nice.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, absolutely. Another girl is from Belarus as well. So all from the same region, I guess. But, yeah, we had a lot of great results from our country many years ago, like you said, so it obviously would be great to play Vera. We haven’t faced each other for a while, so, yeah, it would be nice.
Q. What would it mean to win this tournament?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It would mean a lot. It’s the biggest tournament I think after the Grand Slams. Like I said, I’m pretty fortunate to be in the finals after having a few tough ones like I had the previous rounds.
Yeah, I look forward to going out there and getting it done.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It would mean a lot. It’s the biggest tournament I think after the Grand Slams. Like I said, I’m pretty fortunate to be in the finals after having a few tough ones like I had the previous rounds.
Yeah, I look forward to going out there and getting it done.
Q. Are you back? Do you feel like you’re back to the top, you can get right to the top again?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I feel like I’m finding my form. Like I said, I was looking to play a lot of the matches before I came to Indian Wells. I really felt like with many matches and staying healthy that I would feel better and my form would start coming back to me, and my tennis as well.
I feel that that’s playing out really well.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I feel like I’m finding my form. Like I said, I was looking to play a lot of the matches before I came to Indian Wells. I really felt like with many matches and staying healthy that I would feel better and my form would start coming back to me, and my tennis as well.
I feel that that’s playing out really well.
Q. Talk about what happened with your shoulder and sort of the process of coming back from this and maybe why it took a little bit longer than you hoped and how you’ve had to adjust your form to help your shoulder more?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, I don’t know how much you know about it, but I had a couple minor tears in it, tendon tears, that weren’t initially seen in the first MRI I did, and I played with it for a little while. Got a little bit worse after that. We caught it a little late, and that’s why I think it took a little longer than it should have.
I tried to rehab I believe the first two months. When that didn’t help I had surgery on it. Probably took me six, seven months after the surgery to come back to the tour.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, I don’t know how much you know about it, but I had a couple minor tears in it, tendon tears, that weren’t initially seen in the first MRI I did, and I played with it for a little while. Got a little bit worse after that. We caught it a little late, and that’s why I think it took a little longer than it should have.
I tried to rehab I believe the first two months. When that didn’t help I had surgery on it. Probably took me six, seven months after the surgery to come back to the tour.
Q. Have you had to change your serve?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I did in the beginning, yeah.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I did in the beginning, yeah.
Q. How about now?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, well, in the beginning I had a much shorter motion. Just kind of took it straight up. My joints are pretty loose in my shoulders and kind of throughout my whole body. That’s one of the reasons why I think I got the injury in the first place.
So in order to start earlier I had to change it. Now it’s not as long as it used to be, but it’s pretty much there.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, well, in the beginning I had a much shorter motion. Just kind of took it straight up. My joints are pretty loose in my shoulders and kind of throughout my whole body. That’s one of the reasons why I think I got the injury in the first place.
So in order to start earlier I had to change it. Now it’s not as long as it used to be, but it’s pretty much there.
Q. Do you and Sasha ever exchange competitive strategies about each other’s sports?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Give me an example.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Give me an example.
Q. He’s had his ups and downs over the years. Every athlete does.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah.
Q. Talk about certain situations…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It obviously helps that he’s an athlete and understands the perspective and the mindset going into matches and being an athlete. It’s quite different to many other things in life and careers.
We have that between each other. We’re obviously in different sports, but we although we’re all in sports and we understand each other, it’s not something that we constantly talk about.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It obviously helps that he’s an athlete and understands the perspective and the mindset going into matches and being an athlete. It’s quite different to many other things in life and careers.
We have that between each other. We’re obviously in different sports, but we although we’re all in sports and we understand each other, it’s not something that we constantly talk about.
Q. Is there any one piece of advice you gave him or he gave you that stayed with the other person?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think that stays between us.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think that stays between us.
Q. I didn’t mean to say what it was…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You just asked the question. (Laughter.)
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You just asked the question. (Laughter.)
Q. Have you exchanged things?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, of course. Obviously he’s my fiancee. We talk. We talk about many things. He understands what I go through obviously, like you said, from an athlete’s perspective. It’s very different. You have ups and downs and wins and then the losses, and he’s always there for me and understands what I go through. So it’s very nice to have that.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, of course. Obviously he’s my fiancee. We talk. We talk about many things. He understands what I go through obviously, like you said, from an athlete’s perspective. It’s very different. You have ups and downs and wins and then the losses, and he’s always there for me and understands what I go through. So it’s very nice to have that.
Q. Your return of serve today again was very phenomenal, and you also mentioned it earlier. Has that always been such a strong part of your game?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I didn’t think so in the first, but I think that was one of the adjustments that I had to make for the second and third set, was to really you know, by me saying being aggressive, it starts from the first ball you hit. That starts with the return, because it puts something in their mind when they go up to the line. They have to go for a little bit more maybe.
So I’ve been returning quite well throughout this tournament, and it’s something that’s going to be quite important in the final.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I didn’t think so in the first, but I think that was one of the adjustments that I had to make for the second and third set, was to really you know, by me saying being aggressive, it starts from the first ball you hit. That starts with the return, because it puts something in their mind when they go up to the line. They have to go for a little bit more maybe.
So I’ve been returning quite well throughout this tournament, and it’s something that’s going to be quite important in the final.
Q. Talk about your match maybe against Azarenka.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, she plays really aggressive and swings really hard from both sides. You know, a great returner. It’ll be tough. I lost to her the last time we played in Stanford that was, I believe so, yeah, I’ll look to change a few things around if I play her.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, she plays really aggressive and swings really hard from both sides. You know, a great returner. It’ll be tough. I lost to her the last time we played in Stanford that was, I believe so, yeah, I’ll look to change a few things around if I play her.
GO MARIA !!!
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