Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova; born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player. A United States resident since 1994, Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001. She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions, for a total of 21 weeks. She is one of ten women, and the only Russian, to hold the career Grand Slam. She is also an Olympic medalist, having earned silver for Russia in women's singles...
NationalityRussian
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth19 April 1987
CityNyagan, Russia
CountryRussian Federation
I think everybody knows that the tennis season is way too long. I mean, it's about 10 and a half months of the year. I think a lot of the times with the scheduling fans don't know sometimes what tournaments are bigger than others. I think there needs to be a better structure on the tour.
You can be playing great tennis the past week, you come out and no matter how good you might have been playing, the level of tennis goes down the drain simply because of the wind.
When it's that hot, just mentally you've got to be so tough.
We have tough matches and I've been able to pull through, so I'm very happy.
I think for tennis players it would make our lives a lot easier.
I surprised myself in the first round, that's for sure.
I thought it was too easy in the beginning,
I thought I played really well, ... I was in control for most of the match.
I think the surface helps a lot. It gives a lot more free points than other surfaces. Serving aces out of nowhere when you haven't had any before, that comes out of confidence.
I'm so excited to be here, to be one of the top eight girls, ... It's great to be playing where the (Los Angeles) Lakers play. You just feel the excitement. I know I went out there and played my game. I was on.
Today I came out and I knew it would be cold so I had to move around quickly just to keep my body warm. I came out prepared.
I can't please everyone. That's not in my J.D., you know, not in my job description.
I enjoy it. Like I said in my previous press conferences, I think in the morning I was doing the 'Today' show, all being glamorous. Then I'm back on the court after three hours, and I'm working hard. This is where I feel I really belong.
But it would mean a lot. I don't think I've shown New York how I can play tennis. Hopefully I can put together some good matches for my New York fans.