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Tag: Maria Sharapova

  • Maria Sharapova Admits She Failed Doping Test: “I Made A Huge Mistake”

    Maria Sharapova announced this week that she failed a drug test in January and could face harsh consequences that may effectively end her tennis career.

    The 28-year old athlete says she has been taking a drug called meldonium, which helps increase blood flow and energy for the user. The substance has been banned by the WADA, but Sharapova says she didn’t know it had been added to the list of prohibited drugs because she didn’t fully read an email announcement.

    “I know that with this, I face consequences. I don’t want to end my career this way, and I really hope I will be given another chance to play this game…I take great responsibility and professionalism in my job, and I made a huge mistake. I let my fans down. I let the sport down that I’ve been playing since the age of 4, that I love so deeply,” Maria said.

    Maria Sharapova has reportedly been taking the drug for a number of years due to irregular heart tests, but it’s unclear at this point whether she will be suspended, which could affect her ability to participate in the Olympics.

    “I understand the drug is sold particularly in Eastern Europe. You can almost get it over the counter. For stronger versions, you might need a prescription. There has been a whole rash of these cases since the 1st of January when it appeared on the banned list. This might not be happening if athletes would be taking more care of the things that are on the list,” said WADA President Craig Reedie.

    It’s possible that an investigation will prove that Sharapova was unaware that the drug was banned, and her career won’t be in jeopardy. However, failed drug tests can result in up to four years of suspension depending on the player and what the circumstances are.

  • Maria Sharapova Blazes Into Fourth Round of Wimbledon

    Maria Sharapova, winner of the French Open this month, is on a roll after reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon yesterday. The Associated Press reported that even though she fell behind at first (3-1 behind her opponent 44th ranked Alison Riske of the United States), she managed to win the last 11 games claiming a 6-3, 6-0 victory. No rain pelted on the two since they were located on the roofed Centre Court. Those outside were less fortunate, as rain outside held up the tournament.

    Last year, Sharapova lost Wimbledon in the second round.

    “I made a slow start but I felt better as the match went on,” Sharapova said about the victory to BBC Sport. Commentator and former tennis star Lindsay Davenport explained she thought, “this Wimbledon, Maria has come in very relaxed. She is happy after winning the French Open and has settled in nicely here. When she gets the one-two combination going either from serve or return it is very hard to stop her.”

    According to Reuters, one of the most difficult transitions to make for players coming off the French Open to Wimbledon is the transition from clay court to grass. The transition is just as difficult for Sharapova as it is for the other players. “Well, this is only my second time trying to do that,” she explains, “of course, the transition, it’s no secret, it’s very difficult.”

    Her happy personal life doesn’t seem to hurt her ability to adapt and play either. This year Sharapova is dating fellow tenis player Grigor Dimitrov. He has apparently earned the nickname “Mr. Sharapova”. Having him around helps, apparently. “It’s definitely nice to feel like you’re mentally happy out there when you’re on the court,” Maria Sharapova explained to Reuters.

    Image via Wimbledon, YouTube.

  • Samantha Stosur Defeated By Maria Sharapova At French Open

    Samantha Stosur let an amazing opportunity slip through her hands after being defeated by Maria Sharapova during the French Open. Stosur had a one-set lead over Sharapova, but ended up losing nine straight games.

    The Australian tennis player posed a big threat to Sharapova, but that still was not enough to pull a win against the Russian crowd favorite. “I know it was an opportunity lost, I thought I was there to win that match and definitely playing well enough to do so. I know that’s an opportunity I’m not going to get again,” Stosur commented.

    The game started with Stosur showcasing  great potential for a victory against Sharapova. By the third set, Stosur was at a complete loss, not expecting her opponent to bounce back by overpowering her serves. The two tied at 4-4 during the second set, but Sharapova was determined and changed the score during the third set at 6-0—even Stosur was surprised by how quickly Sharapova retaliated.

    Samantha Stosur vs. Maria Sharapova: French Open match highlights

    Stosur had only won two out of the fifteen matches she previously played against Sharapova. Coming into this match, the Aussie stated that she knew what it would take to defeat Sharapova and that she would have to work hard to get a win—however, if she slacked off, she was well aware that the match would be extremely tough for her.

    Sharapova openly admitted that she had a hard time with Stosur’s serve and slice during the earlier parts of the match.

    The 30-year-old Stosur is well known for her powerful serve, which is known to be one of the best in women’s tennis. She defeated Serena Williams in 2011 in the US Open final, becoming the first Australian woman since 1980 to nab a Grand Slam singles tournament. To date, Stosur has a total of four Grand Slam titles under her belt: two in mixed doubles, and two in women’s doubles.

    Image via SamStosur.com

  • Samantha Stosur Falls To Sharapova In French Open

    It was a missed opportunity for Samantha Stosur in Roland Garros, as the 19th seed and top-ranked Australian player in the world lost nine straight games to Maria Sharapova to fall in the fourth round of the French Open.

    “How quickly things can turn,” Stosur said to The Associated Press. “I don’t think I did much wrong. It was just one of those things. You miss a ball, she hits a good serve next one, (you) play a sloppy game, and all of a sudden, you’re even — and she runs away with it.”

    Stosur built a one-set lead in the match before Sharapova roared back to claim the second set 6-4 and the final set 6-0. Stosur is a three-time semifinalist at Roland Garros and was the runner-up in 2011, according to Yahoo! Sports, and was viewed as a strong contender for the French Open title after the top three women’s seeds failed to reach the round of 16.

    “I know it was an opportunity lost,” Stosur said. “I thought I was there to win that match and definitely playing well enough to do so. I know that’s an opportunity I’m not going to get again.”

    After losing the first set and trailing 4-3 in the second set, Sharapova won nine straight games to take the match. In one stretch, Sharapova won 22 out of 25 points to take control of the match, the victory of which propels hers into the quarterfinals.

    “There are so many emotions you go through in a match, and then there are always moments where you feel a bit of a momentum change,” Sharapova said. “I think you feel a lot more as a player than maybe a spectator.”

    Sharapova is attempting to get to her third consecutive French Open Final. She will face Garbine Muguruza, a 20-year-old from Spain, who defeated Serena Williams 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of French Open play.

    “I love competing,” Sharapova said. “That’s one of the best parts of the sport. Gives me the greatest pleasure, and I don’t think anything else in life can give me that. I’m using that to my advantage while I can.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Maria Sharapova Doesn’t Take Ernests Gulbis’ Sexist Remarks Seriously

    Ernests Gulbis from Latvia, 25, made sexist comments when reporters asked him about his two younger sisters who also play tennis. He said that he wishes his sisters would not pursue professional tennis, as it’s tough for a woman.

    “A woman needs to enjoy life a little bit more. Needs to think about family needs to think about kids. What kids you can think about until age of 27 if you’re playing professional tennis, you know. That’s tough for a woman, I think.” said Gulbis.

    The comments again came out when reporters asked 27-year-old Maria Sharapova about what she thought of Gulbis’ statement.

    Sharapova answered that people shouldn’t take everything Gulbis says seriously. “I mean let’s be honest with that. I think he’s great entertainment and we love to listen to what he has to say… in a way, I think he was joking, but he’s playing the sport, so how bad can it be?” She continued to say that if professional tennis were so bad, Gulbis wouldn’t be playing it even though he’s a man.

    Sharapova also said that playing professional tennis brings many opportunities to women, especially given her experiences. However, she also said that she wouldn’t wish the same experience for her kids.

    “But then when I’m playing the matches, I’m in front of thousands of people and the experience that this sport brings, I think, of course I want my kids to do this, this is such a huge lesson in life,” Sharapova said.

    Garbine Muguruza, 20, also disagrees with Gulbis’ statement saying that women should play tennis until they want, even if they pursue having a family. “You can play until you want to play,” she said.

    Gulbis’ comments may be sexist for some, but for others, he is only looking out for his younger sisters and being protective of them like a brother should.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Maria Sharapova Stages Comeback To Win Madrid Open

    It didn’t look good for Maria Sharapova at the start of the championship match at the Madrid Open yesterday. The Russian dropped the first set to 22-year-old Simona Halep 1-6, holding serve only one time.

    However, somehow the 8th ranked world player, and former number one, put it together and took the next two sets 6-2, 6-3. The match served as retribution for last year’s final, where Sharapova lost to American Serena Williams.

    Sharapova has dominated on clay throughout her career. Since 2011, she is 47-3, all her losses came at the hand of Serena. Luckily for Sharapova, Williams did not play at the Madrid Open this year due to a leg injury.

    The comeback started to brew in the second set with Sharapova’s dominating ground strokes, which kept the Romanian running all over the court. Sharapova was subsequently able to break Halep’s serve twice in the second set to tie the match. She then maintained that momentum in the deciding set to grab her first ever Madrid Open championship.

    This was Sharapova’s 32nd overall championship title. She said after the victory, “I came close last year, and I didn’t have a great first set today, but I knew it wasn’t over until the last point was played.” She added, “I don’t know how I pulled it off.”

    Sharapova missed most of last year with a shoulder injury. However, she looked strong during the Madrid Open and should be a serious contender at next month’s French Open, which is played on clay. Sharapova said at a news conference after the match, “I don’t take these moments for granted because I know what it’s like to be out and injured and trying to find your way back just to play tennis.” The 27-year-old added, “So it doesn’t matter if I’m playing on the moon or in Madrid, to be in the final position is an honor.”

    The victory brings Sharapova up a spot in the world rankings to number seven. On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal captured his fourth Madrid Open championship after his opponent Kei Nishikori had to exit the match due to a back injury. Nadal was leading 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 when the match stopped.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Maria Sharapova Wins Madrid Title, Overcomes Injury

    Maria Sharapova fought back hard to win the Madrid title against powerful tennis newcomer Simona Halep 1-6 6-2 6-3. The beginning looked bleak, but Sharapova was triumphant over her stocky, but spry opponent who also had the advantage of being five years younger.

    Despite her loss to Sharapova, Halep said she had “an amazing week” in the Spanish capital. “I played really well all week and I beat top layers and I had a very high level of my tennis,” she said.”Maria is a great player and a great champion. She played really well, and I think she deserved to win this title.”

    What was her downfall in her opinion?

    “The different I think is the experience. She has more experience than me.”

    Sharapova, a possible contender at the French Open later this month, was out during the second half of last season with a shoulder injury. However, that didn’t seem to stop her from giving her best grunts and shrieks to accompany her mighty form and prowess on the court.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyOKYVepmxU

    After being on the mend for a while she had the vigor of a new appreciation for the game on her side, as well.

    “I don’t take these moments for granted because I know what it’s like to be out and injured and trying to find your way back just to play tennis,” she said. “I like the work that I put in and I want to get the opportunities to be in the final.”

    She added, “So it doesn’t matter if I’m playing on the moon or in Madrid, to be in the final position is an honor.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPvcH3hM-Ac

    The 27-year-old Sharapova is one of the best-paid athletes around and has found success off the court as well as on. She has her own clothing lines and a company that sells awesome candy called Sugarpova.

    But her first love will always be tennis, and now with nine tennis titles, she has joined Venus Williams as the third most successful active player in the sport, one behind Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues and Serena Williams who each have 10.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Maria Sharapova Wins Third Consecutive Grand Prix

    Pro tennis player Maria Sharapova won her third consecutive Porsche Grand Prix tennis title this Sunday in Stuttgart, Germany. Maria was behind but surged ahead to defeat Ana Ivanovic, a former No. 1 as well. Sharapova defeated Ivanovic with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Maria, the defending champion, cruised through the semi-finals, beating out Sara Errani, 6-1, 6-2 in a 59-minute semifinal match.

    Facing the final match, it was Anna Ivanovic who took an early lead, winning the first five matches. Sharapova seemed to have trouble reading Ivanovic’s game and change of pace. Still, Sharapova held on as Ivanovic wore down and lost her focus. Sharapova’s game sharpened and she rose to the challenge, fighting to keep her title. It was definitely a showdown as the two top-ranked tennis pro and French Open champions vied for the title.

    Speaking about the hard-fought match, Maria says, “I just tried to hang in there. For the first half of the match I thought it might not be my day today, but somehow I turned it around.”

    Sharapova’s win at the Porche Grand Prix today marks her first tournament win of the year, and the 30th title of her career. She’s now undefeated in the last 13 matches at Stuttgart, Germany. Sharapova returned to tennis only a few months ago after shoulder surgery. “It was a very tough year for me,” she says about facing downtime after the injury. “I had quite a slow beginning to the year, but me and my team have been working hard to get in the position to win titles again, and I’m so happy to be able to do it in Stuttgart,” Maria says of her victorious win today. Congrats on your third title, Maria!

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Maria Sharapova Hopes to Continue Success in Germany

    Maria Sharapova, currently ranked No. 9 in the world, last saw Grand Slam success at the French Open in 2013, reaching the finals of said event after easily defeating China’s Li Na. Sharapova would finish as the runner-up, though, after losing to the most dominant player in tennis currently, Serena Williams. Luckily for Sharapova, she will not have to face Williams as she gears up for the 2014 French Open at this week’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.

    Whether the participating of Serena WIlliams would have had an impact on Sharapova’s performance or not is perhaps a superfluous question considering the success Sharapova has experienced at Stuttgart in the past. “I’ve competed here for the last two years and won both times, so I have only positive memories… I don’t want to miss out on an experience like this.”

    When asked if she was excited at the prospect of competing at the event without having to worry about the presence of Serena Williams, Sharapova replied, “I am a person who loves the challenges and I don’t go out of my way to avoid anyone… Serena has been playing her most successful tennis in recent years and my aim must be to learn from the defeats against her and work to get to her level.”

    Sharapova has been battling a recurring shoulder injury since August 2013. In her first competition in 2014, Sharapova advanced to the semifinals before losing to Serena Williams. Going into the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, however, Sharapova feels as good as ever: “I was out of action for four months and hardly played after last year’s French Open. But I’m back to 100 percent now and I want to win in Stuttgart.”

    Sharapova is also riding the success of her most recent candy launch. In celebration of her 27th birthday, Sharapova announced the production of the newest candy from her premium candy brand, Sugarpova.

    The resemblance of the candy to the shape of a Porsche 911 is no coincidence. One year ago, Porsche named Sharapova its first global ambassador.

    “As an ambassador of the brand, it’s thrilling for me to combine my passions in such a totally unexpected and exciting way. The 911 is my favourite Porsche because its shape is so perfect,” stated Sharapova.

    WIth all of her connections to Porsche, it’s no wonder Sharapova has had so much success at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix at Stuttgart. With Serena Williams out of the mix this year, it looks as if that success will remain.

    Image via YouTube

  • Connie Britton Named Goodwill Ambassador by the UN

    Nashville actress Connie Britton was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Wednesday. Her concentration will be global women’s empowerment and an emphasis on the eradication of poverty.

    Britton, who has been involved with various charitable organizations for years commented, “In my own travels, I’ve seen many places where people are living in extreme poverty. It’s unacceptable that, in 2014, one billion people live in such conditions, and a full sixty per cent of the chronically hungry in the world are women. I look forward to working with UNDP to help change this and improve the lives of vulnerable people worldwide.”

    Britton joins nine other UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors that include five soccer players; Ronaldo de Lima, Zinédine Zidane, Didier Drogba, Iker Casillas and the world’s top female soccer player, Marta Vieira da Silva; tennis star Maria Sharapova; Spanish actor Antonio Banderas; Japanese actress Misako Konno; and HRH Haakon, the Crown Prince of Norway.

    Zinédine Zidane is an overlord:

    Here’s a clip concerning Britton’s new appointment:

    UNDP Director for External Relations Michael O’Neill commented, “We are thrilled to have Connie Britton join UNDP’s efforts to fight poverty worldwide. Connie is passionately committed to humanitarian causes and she will be a great partner for UNDP, helping us raise awareness of development issues among the American and global public.”

    Constance Elaine “Connie” Britton (née Womack), 47, is best known for her roles as Nikki Faber on the ABC sitcom Spin City, as Tami Taylor on the NBC/DirecTV sports drama Friday Night Lights, for which she was Emmy-nominated twice for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and as Vivien Harmon in the FX horror-drama anthology American Horror Story, for which she was nominated for another Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.

    Britton currently portrays the lead role of country music star Rayna Jaymes on ABC’s hit Nashville, for which she was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe. The actress currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

    Image via YouTube

  • Maria Sharapova Advances at Sony Open

    Maria Sharapova won a 3-hour tennis match on Saturday at the Sony Open. Her opponent? The very capable Lucie Safarova of Serbia.

    ”She kept hitting unbelievable shots,” Sharapova said. ”One more. One more. I said, ‘How many chances are you going to get?’ I thought our level was quite high in the end.”

    The crowd was worked up toward the end of the long battle and endured an extensive and adrenaline fueled duel for the last point. Finally, Safarova wearily drove the ball into the net, ending the match and declaring victory for Sharapova. It was bittersweet, ending with the scores at 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-2 in favor of Sharapova, according to AP.

    ”After a match like that, it’s tough to have only one winner,” Sharapova said, ”because both players give a lot and both want to win so much.”

    The two ended the match with a hug of mutual respect reserved for those who have challenged each other and just truly enjoyed the battle.

    Serena Williams also had a dramatic return to the court after a month-long hiatus. That long break might explain 41 unforced errors, including seven double-faults and her self-described “amateur” performance. She made a spectacle with lots of grunting, flailing, and cursing herself.

    However, the tennis legend still managed to pull it out at the end against 20-year-old Caroline Garcia after a 2 1/2 hour match with scores of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

    ”I can play a hundred times better,” Williams said. ”I really gave myself a tremendous amount of trouble out there. Granted she played great, but I made so many errors … 40-something errors. It’s not the way to play professional tennis. Maybe amateur.”

    Garcia was just happy to play Williams. This time. ”It’s always nice to play against a big player,” she said. ”You are working and practicing to play this match, because it’s in this kind of match you can learn more. But next time I prefer to win.”

    All in all, a pretty exciting day at the Sony Open for some of Tennis’ biggest stars.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams Fight to Advance

    In front of a capacity crowd brimming with excitement, it took Maria Sharapova three hours, 228 total points and nine match points to defeat the 26-seeded Czech Republic leftie Lucie Safarova last night in the third round at the Sony Open in Key Biscayne, Florida. The No. 4 ranked player had her chances, but the stubborn Safarova refused to go down without a fight.

    The Russian player said of Safarova’s play, ”She kept hitting unbelievable shots. One more. One more. I said, ‘How many chances are you going to get?’ I thought our level was quite high in the end.”

    The final score of the match was 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-2. Sharapova was gracious in victory, pointing out how hard defeat can be in such a grueling battle. “After a match like that, it’s tough to have only one winner, because both players give a lot and both want to win so much.”

    Also advancing in the tournament was the No. 1 ranked Serena Williams, who also had a long, tough fight against French player Caroline Garcia (No. 74) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. This was Williams’ first tournament in a month and the rust certainly showed. Williams committed seven double-faults and recorded 41 unforced errors. She said of her game, “I can play a hundred times better. I really gave myself a tremendous amount of trouble out there. Granted she played great, but I made so many errors … 40-something errors. It’s not the way to play professional tennis. Maybe amateur.”

    Third round action continues at the Sony Open today. Serena’s sister Venus is set to square off this evening at 5 pm ET against Casey Dellacqua from Australia.

    Also advancing to the fourth round are Angelique Kerber, Petra Kvitova, Ekaterina Makarova, Kristen Flipkens and the former No. 1 ranked Ana Ivanovic.

    Image via Maria Sharapova, Twitter

  • Camila Giorgi Stuns Sharapova at BNP Paribas

    If one had asked the general US population who Camila Giorgi was before yesterday’s third round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, one probably could have expected several response: An Italian runway model, a fashion designer of some sorts, or perhaps even a Real Housewives star. After her victory over the world’s No. 5 ranked women’s tennis player, Maria Sharapova, however, Giorgi proved to the world that she is indeed a tennis player.

    It took Giorgi three sets and 2 hours and 36 minutes to defeat defending champion Sharapova, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, yesterday in a tightly contested match. Giorgi’s victory over Sharapova marked only her third victory over a top-ten ranked opponent in her eight year career, with previous victories coming against No. 7 Sara Errani in 2012 and No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki in last year’s US Open.

    Despite emerging victorious against the two-time winner of the BNP Paribas Open, both Giorgi and Sharapova struggled mightily. Sharapova, known for her power and grace on the court, suffered from a plethora of unforced errors (58 in total) and a complete dearth of winners (only 16). Giorgi did not fare much better, however. The No. 79 ranked Italian had 48 unforced errors of her own, with only 24 winners. Perhaps most surprisingly, Giorgi was able to defeat Sharapova while only serving at 45 percent.

    “I did not play a good match at all and I started very poorly. I’ve never played against her, but she’s someone that doesn’t give you much rhythm. She’s quite aggressive, but some shots she hits incredible for a long period of time. Sometimes they go off a bit. But if I’m speaking about my level, it was nowhere near where it should have been,” stated Sharapova.

    Sharapova suffered from a shoulder injury late in 2013 and did not compete in the last 3 months of the year. Thus far in four tournaments of 2014, Sharapova has failed to reach a final round. Instead of letting the lack of success affect her game negatively, Sharapova believes this most recent loss will provide a spark for the year-to-come: “Losses motivate me a lot, because as a competitor you don’t want to lose these types of matches. It’s individual matches that really fire you up, and I hope that these last few losses will do that for me.”

    Not only did Sharapova have a positive outlook for herself, but also for Giorgi: “I think if she played at this level for a consistent period of time I don’t think she’d be a qualifier here. I think that’s pretty obvious.”

    The No. 5 ranked Sharapova will slip to No. 7 in the world following this defeat, her lowest ranking since 2011.

    Image via Camila Giorgi Official Website

  • Maria Sharapova Blows Off Waiter’s ‘Selfie’ Request

    Maria Sharapova may be pretty, but her nerves may be getting the better of her.

    In Australia for next week’s Australian Open, the world’s number three tennis pro coldly rebuffed a waiter’s request to take a selfie with him at a Melbourne cafe.

    Four-time grand slam winner Sharapova admits she is not a patient person and is likely just nervous before the season’s first grand slam. She has struggled with her right shoulder and has been resting it for the past four months.

    She told reporters that this flair up has not been as difficult as in 2008 when her shoulder injury required surgery, but that her patience has been tested none-the-less.

    “It was not as hard (to cope with) as the one I had a few years back,” she said. “That was pretty tough, considering I had surgery. This is far from being that serious. This was a matter of time, which in tennis it’s not great when you come to a doctor’s office and they say, ‘time, time, just wait, wait’.

    “We don’t have much patience because we always have a schedule set, tournaments to play.That’s tough to accept because you don’t quite know when the inflammation is going to go down, when you’re going to be able to play overhead shots, things like that.”

    The 26-year-old Russian beauty has realistic expectations for this year’s open.

    “You obviously have to lower your expectations a little bit and be a bit realistic about maybe the first few matches,” she said.

    “You have to grind, work through them, hope to get better as the tournament goes on.”

    Image via Wikimedia

  • Maria Sharapova Withdraws From 2013 WTA Championships

    The tennis world was shocked to hear that Maria Sharapova, a well-known and world-renowned tennis champion, would be withdrawing from the upcoming WTA Championships during October 22-27. According to FOX Sports, Sharapova injured her right shoulder, which is currently hindering her tennis performance.

    Sharapova (26) is a Russian-born Grand Slam tennis champion who now lives in the USA. She made her tennis career public in 2000 when she won the girls’ 16 division at the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships (Source: EddieHerr.com). According to the WTA (Women’s Tennis Assocation), Sharapova is currently ranked third among singles rankings and also has accumulated 6941 points to date.

    According to the Inquisitr, Sharapova offered the following apology to her fans and followers:

    “I am very disappointed that I will not be able to play in the WTA Championships this year. The fans in Istanbul have welcomed us each year with such intense passion and warmth. I will sincerely miss the energy and excitement they brought to the year-end tournament. I want to thank Istanbul for being a tremendous host and hope to play in Turkey sometime in the future.”

    Due to Sharapova’s withdrawal, three more players have qualified, notably: Sara Errani, Petra Kvitova, and Jelena Jankovic. In addition, The Guardian recently announced that the remaining spot in the forthcoming WTA Championships will go to Angelique Kerber, a highly ranked German tennis pro.

    Various fans of Sharapova on Twitter have tweeted their reaction to Sharapova’s withdrawal below.

    [Image source: Twitter (@MariaSharapova)]

  • Maria Sharapova Denies Engagement Rumors

    Tennis star Maria Sharapova didn’t play in the US Open last week, but she’s managed to stay in the spotlight nonetheless.

    As her official Twitter feed indicates, she’s been making the talk show rounds, and attending New York Fashion week events:

    Sharapova took advantage of her appearance on Larry King Live, to dispel rumors of her recent engagement to boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov: “No I’m not getting married. Not that I know of.”

    Dimitrov is a Bulgarian-born professional tennis player who lives in Stockholm, Sweden. He is currently the No. 29 ranked male tennis player in the world.

    Sharapova, four-time Grand Slam winner, pulled out of the US Open because of a shoulder injury. Rumors have swirled around the Russian beauty since her early exit from Wimbledon in June. Besides being involved in a fairly public war of words with rival Serena Williams, Sharapova made headlines in mid-August when she fired her coach Jimmy Connors a mere 34 days after hiring him.

    She was expected to enter the US Open, which commenced August 26, without a coach.

    Amidst it all, Sharapova launched her Sugarpova accessory line at Henri Bendel in New York City on August 21:

    photo credit

  • Maria Sharapova, No. 1 seed, Knocked Out in the Fourth Round of Wimbledon

    Maria Sharapova has been knocked out of Wimbledon in the fourth round by 15 seed Sabine Lisicki. This unforseen and devestating loss could cost the Russian her rank as the number 1 women’s tennis player.

    Sharapova lost in two sets in a match that was controlled by Lisicki from the beginning. Sharapova was intimidated by Lisicki’s fast serves, that she followed with powerful groundstrokes. Lisicki finished Sharapova off with an ace down the middle on her second match point. Sharapova fell 6-4, 6-3 to the German.

    Although Lisicki is a 15 seed, the grass courts of Wimbledon suit her well. She made the quarters and the semis in her last two appearances, the quick pace of grass consistently playing to her style. So much so that she has developed something of a streak of knocking out French Open champions in Wimbledon. In 2009 she knocked out Svetlana Kuznetsova and in 2011 Li Na.

    Sharapova was coming into Wimbledon on a high after winning her first French Open and completing a career Grand Slam. She was trying to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.

    “I just went for my shots. Really from the first point on I felt great out there,” Lisicki said to AP after the match. “It’s my favorite tournament. I love playing on grass; I love the crowd here. I just love it.”

    In other Wimbledon news, Grand Slam Champion Kim Clijsters was also knocked out in what she says is her final Wimbledon before she retires this year. Advancing are four time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams and defending champion, Petra Kvitova.

  • Maria Sharapova Trolls Facebook Fans With Short Hair Pic

    Maria Sharapova is first and foremost a world-famous tennis player. But as we’ve seen in the past (looking at you, Anna), if female tennis players happen to be strikingly beautiful, that fact tends to overshadow their athletic talents.

    That’s not to say that Sharapova is any slouch on the court. She’s won Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open – 24 WTA singles titles in all. At one point in her career, she held the number one world ranking. But she’s also embraced her popularity with modeling and endorsement deals for companies like Samsung.

    Because of this, you can understand why her legion of fans flipped out when she posted some pics to her Facebook account showing that she’d chopped off her glorious locks.

    Or did she?

    Monday, Sharapova posted a couple of images with the captions “So what do you guys think?? I kind of love it!” Check them out below:

    (image)

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    This set off a firestorm of comments – some of them positive, but a large handful negative. In short, people were concerned (over 13,000 comments). “I am in shock! It’s too short!” wrote one fan.

    Apparently, it was just a wig. She quotes her email inbox’s “stressful 24 hours” of messages from fans “going bananza” in clarifying that she never really said she had cut it:

    Wow, when I posted those photos with the short hair I had no idea everyone would all go bananza….( my dear friends, I never actually said I cut my hair!) so for the sake of my email inbox and it’s stressful 24 hours, I would like to show you the below pictures…my hair is still long…and blonde…and well it’s pretty much the same! We did a shoot a few days ago and I sported all types of hair styles…long and yes short (a wig!!!).

    She posted another pic to prove it:

    (image)

    Kids, don’t believe everything you see on Facebook, and if you do – don’t freak out. Maria Sharapova can hardly turn herself into a beast with a short haircut.

  • Maria Sharapova Signs 3 Year Endorsement Deal with Samsung

    Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has recently signed a 3 year endorsement contract with Samsung electronics, to promote the company’s smartphone, tablet and TV products. At present, the contract only covers her native Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, but her the deal might expand globally sometime next year. According to Sharapova’s agent Max Eisenbud, “Maria really hasn’t been marketed that much in Russia – It’s important to her because that’s where her roots are. I also felt that was a really untapped market, with the 2014 Sochi Olympics coming up.”

    Sharapova, who shot to fame after winning Wimbledon at age 17, once was the highest paid athlete in the world. She presently pulls in about $25 million a year, and endorses companies including Nike, Tag Heuer, Tiffany & Co. and Evian water. Sharapova, who is currently ranked at #2 in women’s tennis worldwide, is no neophyte in regards to endorsing mobile devices – she’d previously promoted Motorola products via her Digital Sharapova Experience, and also shot unboxing videos and made public appearances for Sony Ericsson.

    Regarding the tennis star’s upgrade to Samsung, Eisenbud states, “Maria had a positive experience, and a positive four years with Sony Ericsson – Now we are just looking forward to a new partnership with a great brand.” Sony Ericsson, who signed a record $88 million endorsement deal with the women’s tennis tour in 2005, won’t extend its agreement with the WTA when it expires at the end this year.

    It is unlikely that Samsung will dissolve as an independent entity like Sony Ericsson, or be bought by Google like Motorola, after dealings with Sharapova, though they are apparently willing to take the gamble.