Posts tagged Sharapova
Azarenka drops Sharapova in Sony Ericsson title match
Apr 3rd
TENNIS
Azarenka drops Sharapova in Sony Ericsson title match
Swapping shrieks along with their shots, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka made rallies sound like a car alarm. Azarenka’s skills ultimately won out in a 6-1, 6-4 victory Saturday in the women’s championship match of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.
The final pitted two of the most notorious grunters in tennis, and while both were noisy, the eighth-seeded Azarenka’s shots had more bang as she won nine straight games at one point. Sharapova, seeded 16th, committed 43 unforced errors, held serve only once and came up short with a late comeback bid.
But Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is healthy again after battling a series of injuries, and the results are starting to show. She’s projected to climb next week to No. 9, the highest she has been ranked since early 2009.
While the women’s tournament was full of surprises, the men’s draw is down to the game’s top-ranked players. No. 1 Rafael Nadal will play for the championship today against No. 2 Novak Djokovic, 23-0 this year.
COLLEGES
UNLV baseball team succumbs to late comeback by Utah, 8-4
The UNLV baseball team lost to Utah 8-4 in the second game of a three-game Mountain West Conference series in Salt Lake City.
The Rebels (19-10, 2-6 MWC) took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on Travis Feiner’s RBI double and run-scoring singles from Cash Thomas and Trevor Kirk. But UNLV managed just one run the rest of the way — on a Rance Roundy RBI groundout in the fifth — and the Utes scored seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Kirk finished 3-for-5 and also scored a run.
Also: The UNLV softball team split two games in its Pre-Conference Round-Up, losing to Seattle 16-8 and beating Loyola Marymount 6-2 at Eller Media Stadium.
In the opener, Seattle sped to a 13-0 lead, scoring two runs in the first inning, seven in the second and four in the third. UNLV (18-13) lost on the run rule after five innings.
Against Loyola Marymount, Amanda Oliveto threw a complete game, allowing seven hits and four walks while striking out seven. Kylie Wagner had a three-run homer in the fifth inning, and Tayler Aleman went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
The UNLV women’s tennis team routed Colorado State 7-0 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
UNLV (13-4, 2-0 Mountain West Conference) swept the three doubles matches for the first point, then took all six singles matches in straight sets. Lucia Batta led the way with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Caitlin Fluegge at No. 1 singles.
The College of Southern Nevada baseball team swept Utah State-College of Eastern Utah 11-1 and 7-5 in Scenic West Athletic Conference action at Morse Stadium.
In the opener, Tyler Blair went 2-for-3 with two doubles and five RBIs for CSN (20-16, 9-11), and Colby Croft went 2-for-2 with a homer. Sam Wolff pitched four innings to get the win, allowing four hits and one walk, with five strikeouts.
Ray Daniels was 2-for-3 with a homer in the second game for CSN, and Duncan Satherlie had a two-run shot as the Coyotes won their eighth straight.
The CSN softball team (25-21, 18-14 SWAC) dropped a doubleheader to North Idaho College, losing 9-7 and 18-10 at the Russell Road Recreation Complex.
Larry Finch, who starred for the Memphis basketball team when it lost to Bill Walton-led UCLA in the 1973 NCAA title game and who went on to coach his alma mater for 11 years, died at age 60.
Memphis spokesman Lamar Chance said Finch died at Saint Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Finch suffered a debilitating stroke in 2002 at age 51. In October 2010, he was hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia.
MISCELLANEOUS
Wlodarczyk beats Palacios, retains WBC cruiserweight belt
Krzysztof Wlodarczyk of Poland retained his WBC cruiserweight title with a split decision over Francisco Palacios of Puerto Rico in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Two judges scored it 114-113 and 118-112 for Wlodarczyk, and the third had it 115-113 for Palacios.
Also: Marco Huck retained his WBO cruiserweight title for the sixth time with a unanimous decision over previously undefeated Ran Nakash of Israel in Halle, Germany.
Huck won with scores of 116-112, 118-110 and 118-110. The German champion improved to 32-1, and Nakash lost for the first time in 26 professional fights.
Hassan N’Dam successfully defended his interim WBA middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Giovanni Lorenzo in Le Cannet, France. The judges’ scores were 119-110, 119-109 and 116-110.
Rumors that Kimi Raikkonen was headed to NASCAR became reality when the former Formula One world champion signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
The Finn will make his NASCAR debut May 20 driving a KBM Toyota Tundra in the Camping World Trucks Series race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
England beat the U.S. women’s soccer team for the first time since 1988, handing the top-ranked Americans a 2-1 exhibition defeat in London.
Wayne Rooney’s hat trick kept Manchester United on track to win the English Premier League with a 4-2 comeback victory over West Ham in London, while the title hopes of Arsenal and defending champion Chelsea were hurt by draws.
Second-place Arsenal drew 0-0 with visiting Blackburn, and Chelsea, in third, needed a 33rd-minute header by Didier Drogba to escape with a 1-1 draw against Stoke.
The Minnesota Wild said defenseman Nick Schultz will miss the rest of the season with post-concussion symptoms.
India won cricket’s World Cup for the first time in 28 years with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai, India.
From www.lvrj.com
Azarenka bests Sharapova for Sony Ericsson crown
Apr 3rd
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Swapping shrieks along with their shots, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka made rallies sound like a car alarm.
Sharapova was the soprano, Azarenka the alto, and their alternating arias could be heard on the beach across the street from the Sony Ericsson Open.
But Sharapova was flat and her opponent sharp. Azarenka swept nine consecutive games to take charge Saturday and won the tournament for the second time, beati ng Sharapova, 6-1, 6-4.
The final matched two of the most notorious grunters in tennis, and while both were noisy, Azarenka’s shots had more bang. Sharapova committed 43 unforced errors, held serve only once and came up short with a late comeback bid.
“I played real well the first set,” the No. 8-seeded Azarenka said. “Maria is such a great fighter, I knew she was going to fight to the end. She came up with great tennis at the end, and I had to hang in there. That’s what paid off.”
And who had the better shriek?
“I think mine is quieter,” Azarenka said.
Sharapova committed eight errors in the first game alone. She lined one especially unsightly serve into the concrete in front of the net. By the time she found her range, Azarenka led 4-love in the second set.
“It’s a little bit too late to pick up the pace when you’re down a set and 4-love,” Sharapova said. “I wish I picked it up earlier, obviously. She did many things better than I did today.”
While the women’s tournament was full of surprises, the men’s draw is down to the game’s top-ranked players. No. 1 Rafael Nadal will play for the championship today against No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who is 23-0 this year.
Sharapova lost in a final for the fourth time since her most recent title, at Strasbourg in May 2010. She’s 0-3 in finals at Key Biscayne, where she was also the runner-up in 2005 and 2006.
But the three-time Grand Slam champion is healthy again after battling a series of injuries, as the results are starting to show. She’s projected to climb next week to No. 9, the highest she has been ranked since early 2009.
“It means that I’m winning matches, and winning more of them,” she said. “It has been a long road to get here. It’s not over yet.”
Azarenka’s also on the rise, and projected to be ranked No. 6 next week, matching a career-best.
Alas, the 21-year-old Belarussian can’t play Key Biscayne every week. She also won the tournament in 2009, stopping Serena Williams in the final. The two titles are the biggest of her career, and she joked she’s planning to move to Miami from Minsk.
Serena and Venus Williams, who between them have won eight Key Biscayne titles, missed the tournament for health reasons. But Azarenka still faced a tough path to the final, beating No. 2 Kim Clijsters and No. 3 Vera Zvonareva in straight sets.
Through six rounds, Azarenka avoided the sort of emotional outbursts that derailed her in the past. She said that after losing in the third round at Dubai in February, she went home and reflected on the state of her game.
“I changed my mentality a little bit,” she said. “I’m enjoying myself so much on the court that there’s no room for me for frustration. I just don’t care if I lose — what I mean is not to create such a big drama out of it. If you lose the match, it’s not the end of the world.”
Before facing Sharapova, Azarenka suggested fans wear earplugs, and the two finalists went at it like a couple of “Aida” rejects. The screeching on one early exchange had spectators giggling before the point ended, but a grim Sharapova pretended not to notice the strident soundtrack.
“I don’t really think about it when I play,” she said. “It’s about thinking what I have to do.”
She had trouble there, with Azarenka hitting aggressively from the baseline to prevent Sharapova from finding her rhythm.
Sharapova broke serve to reach 1-all, but it was an hour before she won another game. She failed to convert 11 game points on her serve before holding for the only time to trail 4-2, and briefly steadied her strokes.
Pounding winners, she overcame two match points to break for 5-4.
“I didn’t feel like I was doing anything wrong,” Azarenka said. “She was just playing really good.”
But Sharapova was too erratic to sustain her rally — or the rallies. When she dumped a forehand into the net on the final point, Azarenka dropped her racket in disbelief and celebrated by spinning and dancing across the court.
And then the only noise came from the cheering crowd.
From www.heraldextra.com
Federer into Miami tennis semis, Sharapova in final
Mar 31st
MIAMI (AFP) – Maria Sharapova rallied to reach the women’s final of the WTA and ATP Masters hardcourt tournament here Thursday, while Roger Federer barely worked at all to reach the men’s semi-finals.
Sharapova, seeded 16th, overcame her slow start by winning 11 straight games en route to a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 semi-final victory over Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.
In Saturday’s final, Sharapova will be seeking her first title since May 2010, and her first in Miami.
She’ll play the winner of Thursday night’s semi-final between third-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva and 2009 Miami champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
Federer spent just 10 minutes on court, winning three games before opponent Gilles Simon retired with a stiff neck.
Federer, seeded third, won 12 of the 15 points against France’s Simon, who talked with a trainer during a changeover before conceding the match and shaking hands with Federer.
Disappointed fans booed as Simon departed the court.
“He told me he woke up this morning with a stiff neck and couldn’t move,” Federer said. “It’s obviously disappointing when it happens in front of an audience. You get booed off the court — that’s rough. It’s not the way you want to move on, but look, I’ll take those because they happen quite rarely.”
Federer next faces either top-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal or seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.
Federer beat Nadal for the title here in 2005, the last time they played each other in the United States.
Sharapova, who finished runner-up here in 2005 and 2006, missed the tournament from 2008-2010 because of injuries.
She got off to a shaky start as she double-faulted three times in dropping her first service game.
But as the match wore on, Sharapova trimmed back her errors and returned Petrovic’s serve aggressively.
Petkovic had 11 game points in the second set but couldn’t convert any of them.
From au.news.yahoo.com
Foursquare Competition Winner Sends Children To Conduct Sharapova Coin Toss |
Mar 27th
Foursquare Competition Winner Sends Children To Conduct Sharapova Coin Toss 
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Lucky Tiago Forte-Vaz won a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send his children Tomas and Matilde to meet their tennis heroes Maria Sharapova and Sabine Lisicki on Stadium Court today at the Sony Ericsson Open tournament thanks to Sony Ericsson and foursquare.
Sony Ericsson, sponsor of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and foursquare partnered in setting up the Sony Ericsson Open as the first fully foursquare integrated sports event ever. By checking in at specially designated venues at the tournament on their smartphones, the 300,000 fans that attend the event this year will unlock the Xperia Tennis Fan Badge and have the opportunity to redeem daily specials for the badge holders, receive discounts on tickets for selected sessions and win once in a lifetime coin toss competitions. Tennis fans can also access tips and match results for the duration of the tournament providing a more engaging experience for all attending the ‘Glam Slam’ of tennis.
Stephan Croix, Vice President Head of Global Marketing Partnerships, Sony Ericsson says: “The partnership with foursquare is a great way to reward tennis fans and engage with people through their smartphones. We think this is a fantastic way to build on the success of the Sony Ericsson Open and continue to find ways to improve the experience for tennis fans.
Maria Sharapova, Sony Ericsson’s brand ambassador, says: “I love the idea that Sony Ericsson and foursquare are giving fans the chance to become a key part of the game, rather than just being spectators. The Sony Ericsson Open is always an amazing tournament, so it seems natural that we give the fans the ultimate tennis experience here in Miami.”
For more information visit: http://www.sonyericssonopen.com and be sure to follow us on Foursquare http://foursquare.com/sonyericssonwta and check-in at the Sony Ericsson Open Tennis Hot Spot to unlock your Xperia Tennis Fan Badge.
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From www.10sballs.com
Tennis: Wozniacki demolishes Sharapova to reach final
Mar 19th
INDIAN WELLS, California – Top seed Caroline Wozniacki blasted her way into the Indian Wells final on Friday, allowing three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova just one service hold in a ruthless display.
World number one Wozniacki demolished her Russian opponent 6-1, 6-2 in front of a crowd of about 7,000 at the BNP Paribas Open to set up a clash with France’s Marion Bartoli.
“It was very important for me to play good defence today, because Maria is hitting the ball hard,” Wozniacki said.
“But still, at the same time, you are not allowed to give her too many short balls and to let her dictate too much because then she’s very dangerous. So it was important to keep depth to my shots and make her move.”
Speaking about her opponent in Sunday’s final, the 20-year-old said of Bartoli, who beat Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-1, 6-3: “Marion is a player who is also trying to play very aggressively, taking the ball early.
“She’s not going to give me a lot of free points.”
“I haven’t thought about the match yet. Right now I’m just pleased about today. I’m gonna enjoy (a day off) tomorrow, and we’re gonna see what’s gonna happen on Sunday,” she added.
Wozniacki is in a rich vein of form, reaching her third straight final after winning in Dubai and finishing as runner-up at Doha.
“Hopefully, I can just keep improving,” Wozniacki said. “I love playing matches. I think it’s great, especially when you’re winning. It’s a fantastic feeling.”
Sharapova struggled hugely with her serve Friday as she made eight double faults and won just 43 percent of her first serve points in the 80-minute night match.
The Russian held serve just once, in the third game of the second set. “I didn’t feel it quite that well today,” said Sharapova.
The 23-year-old has not reached the same heights since she had shoulder surgery in 2008 but feels she is improving. She has been working with her coach to try and revamp her serve.
“I’m getting there,” Sharapova said. “I’m working a little bit on the serve stance. I think little by little you eventually feel more confident.
“Especially going from the first serve to the second serve and working on a few more spins. That’s I think been the toughest challenge since my surgeries, is feeling the kick and then the slice. That came a little more naturally to me before.”
Wozniacki has now reached her second straight final at Indian Wells, which is a WTA and ATP tournament. She lost last year to Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-4. Bartoli, seeded 15th, hammered 10 aces on her way to victory over Belgium’s Wickmayer in the other semi-final.
“I am so happy to be in the final because Indian Wells is one of my favorite tournaments. I played great even though I got tense on my serve in the second set,” Bartoli said.
From news.asiaone.com
Tennis star Maria Sharapova remembers Chernobyl in wake of Japan crisis
Mar 18th
INDIAN WELLS, CALIF. — Tennis star Maria Sharapova is struck by the plight of those exposed to nuclear radiation in Japan, her awareness raised as a result of those impacted still by the nuclear power plant explosion at Chernobyl.
Sharapova, who advanced to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open here Thursday night, was born in Siberia a year after the catastrophe considered the worst nuclear accident ever. Sharapova’s parents fled to escape fallout from the Chernobyl explosion 25 years ago.
“Even though something like that happened such a long time ago, it still impacts many people on a daily basis,” Sharapova said. “Kids that were born and now are having kids, you find that they have something in their body that’s not allowing them to live a normal life from pollution.”
Japan’s struggle to prevent a nuclear meltdown after last week’s earthquake and tsunami has brought attention to Sharapova’s hope to raise awareness about that earlier disaster. She wore a shirt early in the week at the tournament to draw attention to Chernobyl.
“It’s really devastating,” Sharapova said of the situation in Japan. “I don’t think words can describe it for those of us who read the paper on a daily basis. It’s really horrifying.”
Japan continues to battle radiation risk at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear-power plant.
“Hopefully the radiation settles down,” Sharapova said. “That’s the most important thing right now and making sure it doesn’t spread, not only around Japan, but everywhere else.”
Health officials have said radiation particles emitted from a Japanese nuclear reactor would disperse long before reaching the West Coast of the United States. Sharapova, 23, has lived in the U.S. since the age of 6 and has a home in Manhattan Beach, Calif.
She sees a swifter response for those impacted in Japan than occurred after the Chernobyl disaster.
“You go on any website now and you can donate to the Japan relief,” she said. “Ten years ago, I don’t think we even had that accessibility, so that’s really fortunate, and I hope that the players will get together and think of something and hopefully the Japan tournament still goes on after the U.S. Open and we can do something.”
In 2007, Sharapova became a United Nations Development Program goodwill ambassador and made a $100,000 donation for youth help in Belarus and the Ukraine areas affected by the Chernobyl accident. Earlier this year, she contributed another $250,000 to help children in the region have access to sporting activities.
She hopes more help will be on the way for the victims of the current disaster.
David Wright: 303-954-1318 or dwright@denverpost.com
From www.denverpost.com
Japan crisis focuses Sharapova’s Chernobyl commitment
Mar 15th
(CNN) — Maria Sharapova’s parents fled their home to escape the fallout from the Chernobyl explosion before she was born.
Fast-forward 25 years, and Japan’s battle to prevent a possible nuclear meltdown following last week’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami has brought into focus the Russian tennis star’s work to raise awareness about that earlier disaster.
The 23-year-old was born in Siberia a year after the Chernobyl catastrophe, considered the worst nuclear accident in history, as her parents left Belarus to avoid any possible exposure to the spreading radiation.
In 2007, the year after she won her second grand slam title at the U.S. Open, Sharapova became a United Nations Development Program goodwill ambassador, making a personal $100,000 donation to its causes in affected areas.
‘Heroes’ battle to keep nuclear plant under control
This January, she contributed another $250,000 to expand initiatives helping children in the region have access to sporting activities.
The problems Japan now faces have raised the specter of another such far-reaching disaster.
“In terms of what’s going on over there, it’s crazy and something that you can’t even prepare for,” Sharapova — wearing a T-shirt marking the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl explosion — told reporters in Indian Wells in the United States, where she is competing.
“It happens, and you see the coverage on it and the videos, and it’s really incredible that something like that can even happen in the world. It opens your eyes, and obviously puts a lot of perspective in your life.
“It’s a country where I have very great memories from. I started playing there when I was very young, and I always loved my experiences there. So to see it going on there, to its culture and the people, it’s really sad.”
Sharapova, who moved to the U.S. at the age of nine and is now based in Florida, said she wants to highlight the widespread, long-lasting effects that a nuclear accident can create.
“In the beginning my job was raising awareness to the world, basically getting the message across that even though something like that happened such a long time ago, it still causes many people (problems) on a daily basis,” she said.
“Kids that were born and now are having kids, you also find that they have something in their body that’s not allowing them to live a normal life from the pollution.
“I have never actually been around the area … I wanted to get all the coverage and all the videos around it, because it’s really unbelievable what you see. This big huge area — it’s completely deserted. No-one is around it.
“Everyone has completely fled. They took their passports and that’s all. That was their only belonging that they really wanted.”
From edition.cnn.com
The slow tennis death of Maria Sharapova
Mar 15th
The slow tennis death of Maria Sharapova Published: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 5:30 AM 
By Douglas Perry, The Oregonian
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View full sizeThe Associated PressMaria SharapovaWatching Maria Sharapova in Indian Wells this past weekend — she struggled to a three-set win over spunky Spanish veteran Anabel Medina Garrigues — reminded me to check my notebook.
Earlier in the week I was down in Eugene covering The Clash of the Champions exo, and, like most everyone there, my attention was focused on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. But Sharapova also was on the bill, and she actually provided the biggest surprise of the day. During the press conference before the event, I asked Maria about her disappointing results since her shoulder surgery two years ago. I expected the famously focused 3-time major champion to say she soon would be back on top. Instead, she parsed the word “disappointing,” saying it was all relative.
True enough, for many players — such as Medina Garrigues — three straight fourth-round exits at Grand Slam events would be reason to celebrate. Of course, that’s never been the case for Shapraova … until now. We still bear witness to her vaunted death stare and bully-girl shrieking on court, but in this press conference she seemed resigned to a fate beyond her control. She talked about being able to “put things in perspective” and enjoy herself on tour. (I was taking shorthand, so I can’t reproduce her exact words, at least not in the right order.) She didn’t say she was done as a significant force on the WTA tour, but that possibility hung out there like a pinata, waiting for someone to swing a stick at it.
No one got a chance. The next question went to Federer, and then, behind schedule, event organizers called an early halt to the proceedings. They quickly hustled me to an undisclosed location for a quickie interview with Nadal and John McEnroe, and Sharapova’s unofficial retirement slipped away.
Until four days later, when I witnessed a mammoth first-serve fail. Sharapova’s shot one-hopped into the net. Medina Garrigues moved well inside the baseline and blasted the second-serve offering as if hitting off a tee. That’s when the Eugene press conference came rushing back. Wrapped in plush Nike gear like a swaddled baby, Sharapova sighed as she answered my question. Her passive, accepting attitude toward her diminished ability is, in a sense, impressive. She is only 23 years old. She surely didn’t expect permanent physical degradation to set in for another half-dozen years at least. But her seeming acceptance is also strange. Sharapova always has won as much through sheer will as through talent. The remorseless stare she directs at her opponent before serving is something you expect from a Mafia hitman, not a blonde who’s had her own bikini spread in Sports Illustrated. It was obvious from the very start of her career that she wanted to win, needed to win, in ways that, say, Elena Dementieva never did.
That said, determination and intimidation can only get you so far, and it looks like Sharapova knows this better than most. Compared to Serena Williams, Sharapova is a borderline talent. She came on tour with a big serve and hard, flat groundstrokes. That combination, along with her killer instinct, was enough to win Wimbledon at 17 against an in-her-prime Serena. But that was then. The Russian moves clumsily around the court. She has little “feel” for the game — tennis balls, to her, are only cannon fodder. As Lindsay Davenport learned in her years-long quest for one more major title, that just doesn’t cut it anymore. There are a lot of big girls on tour today, and most of them run like gazelles.
It’s too early to completely count Sharapova out. Her shoulder doesn’t seem to be causing her any pain, so maybe her serving consistency will return. She could put together another run at a major. She frequently looked awesome yesterday in her third-round Indian Wells match against Aravane Rezai, winning it 6-2, 6-2. Whenever she can set her feet and throw all of her rebel-yell fervor into a stroke, she’s dangerous.
Just don’t count on Sharapova to ever dominate a major again, like she did at the 2008 Australian Open. The players at the top of the game — and the youngsters coming up behind them — don’t depend on the big shot for every point, as Sharapova does. They rely on their ability to motor around the court like Danica Patrick. Everyone’s got power these days — even Caroline Wozniacki. It takes more than that to be the No. 1 player in the world.
– Douglas Perry; Twitter
From blog.oregonlive.com
Federer, Sharapova draw a crowd for Indian Wells practice
Mar 10th
Indian Wells, California – Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova drew a standing room-only crowd Wednesday as two of the most recognisable faces in the sport practised on adjoining courts as seeds prepared for their starts at the Indian Wells Masters.
The pair were fresh from an exhibition the night before in Oregon sponsored by their clothing company that also featured world number one Rafael Nadal, and a surprise appearance by John McEnroe, who is never from from a tennis spotlight.
Sharapova was ushered off to the sanctity of the player’s patio and compound by a security staff after stopping following her session to sign dozens of autographs from eager fans under a baking desert sun at this resort 200 kilometers east of Los Angeles.
Seeds at the first Masters of the season receive byes into the second round.
The women’s top ranking could be up for the taking again just three weeks after it was swapped between Kim Clijsters and current holder Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.
Clijsters fronted up in the Californian desert with a new shorter hairstyle, explaining that she had it done last month in Antwerp during Fed Cup.
‘I’ve always wanted short hair,’ said the mother of one and winner of the last two editions of the US Open since returning to tennis following the birth of her daughter. ‘it’s just a bit shorter. I went back to the shop every day for two or three days and got it a little shorter each time. I’m liking it. And I’ll probably go even shorter.’
Women’s first-round play got underway in torrid conditions, with Argentines, Americans, Swiss and Italians all clocking opening wins.
Argentina’s Gisela Dulko defeated doubles rival Vania King of the US 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, while American Bethanie Mattek-Sands beat out Russian Vera Dushevina 6-4, 6-4.
Alize Cornet of France ousted Swiss veteran Patty Schnyder in straight sets, but Swiss Timea Bacsinszky took revenge with her win over Olga Govortsova of Belarus 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 to reach the second round.
Men began preparation with their first round beginning Thursday, with many of the Latin players – and Scot Andy Murray – using the soft grass carpet surrounding the training courts for impromptu games of football.
Novak Djokovic, the form player of the season along with Robin Soderling after winning both events he’s played at the Australian Open and Dubai, put aside his golf clubs from earlier this week to get back to work on court.
‘I want to take one tournament at a time,’ he said in the run-up. ‘I just want to be playing consistently well. I want to keep up the good form that I have, stay fit and take care of my health and physical condition.’
Federer may be learning that his era of domination is concluding, but that reality will not keep the Swiss from a fight for the top for as long as he plays the game.
‘At the end of the day, we’ve (Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic) been able to share those a little bit to be honest. But I don’t feel it’s a three-horse race right now.
‘Rafa (number one) is still the favourite. He’s won three of the four slams. Novak has not lost a match yet this season, but the season is still really short.’
Nadal owns Indian Wells titles from 2007 and 2009, while Federer collected a hat-trick 2004-2006, Djokovic lifted the trophy in 2008 after losing the final to Nadal 12 months earlier.
From www.monstersandcritics.com
Maria Sharapova: Has Sharapova’s Tennis Career Already Peaked?
Feb 11th
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Maria Sharapova Is Only 23 Years Old, But Her Tennis Prime Is Already Over With
With the news coming out that Maria Sharapova had to withdraw from the Open Gaz De France Tournament, it got me thinking about the last time that she was actually relevant in a tennis tournament.
Obviously, there are extenuating circumstances this time, she is battling a viral infection, but it’s been a while since she made any noise in a tennis tournament.
Tennis players are known for having very short shelf lives, with most of them peaking between the ages of 20-25. Sharapova came into the mainstream in 2004, when she won Wimbledon at the age of 17. She defeated Serena Williams in that final.
She would go on to win two more major championships, the 2006 U.S. Open and the 2008 Australian Open. She was the top ranked female tennis player in the world a couple of different times in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
However, since 2008 she has been largely irrelevant in tennis. She won the Australian Open to begin the year, but she hasn’t reached a grand slam final since then. She hasn’t won a tournament of any kind since May 2010.
She has fallen to no. 13 in the world tennis rankings. She has been very inconsistent on the court. Plus, she has other ventures going on outside the tennis world. She has a number of endorsement deals, she does some modeling and she is engaged to be married to New Jersey Nets G Sasha Vujacic.
Her days as an elite tennis player are over, but at least she had a good, successful run.
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