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 wasn't fighting out there in the second set, ... I wasn't the Maria you usually see, fighting for every single point.
I wasn't fighting out there in the second set. It was like I was giving it up. But it gives me confidence I can pull out a win like that.
She's got a lot of fighting spirit out there, ... I was very proud of myself for being able to win that game. It was a very tough one.
When I look back, there were chances I could have taken and didn't. In the second set especially, I didn't have my usual fight to the end. It wasn't any particular point, but a little here and there made a big difference.
I love playing in front of the New York City fans. But fighting New York City traffic is the worst.
I played really well in the first set but then I just got too comfortable. I wasn't physically tired but mentally I was coasting. I just had to get myself together mentally and fight for it.
I don't think the scores showed anything, it was physically and mentally so challenging to play against her today. We were fighting for everything.
I'm going to be busy these next several weeks rehabbing, training and getting healthy so that I can play my very best for myself, the fans, tournaments and sponsors in 2006. I tried my best to fight through my injuries during the season, but I now realize that I need to take some time off to rest my body and get back to being 100 percent healthy. I look forward to regaining my form and playing at the same highly competitive level that I have in the past. This has been such a disappointing year for me because I'm such a competitive person and I like to win for myself and for my fans.
I'm an athlete. I go out there and fight my heart out.
In the second set, mentally I wasn't there and I didn't have any motivation. I wasn't fighting, I basically gave up.
In the second set I could have fought a little harder. I didn't have the fighting sprit that I usually have.
The score doesn't say much about the match,
I've said this like 30 times. I feel like I'm saying it again. The physical part of my game is very important right now. It's what I'm working on. That's what's been improving. I mean, if you look at me a year ago, I don't think I was at this point physically. It didn't take five days, it didn't take a month. It took a whole year to progress and get better.
It would be amazing if I could win here as it's the toughest Grand Slam to win, just because of the traffic.