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Sharapova slams Azarenka for blaming WTA rules

37K views 323 replies 141 participants last post by  Marcus1979 
#1 ·
* Sharapova causes stir over Azarenka withdrawal
* Azarenka says seeking more protection of players' rights

Russia's Maria Sharapova caused a stir at the Italian Open on Friday when she questioned Victoria Azarenka's claim that she had been forced to quit to protect her ranking.

Azarenka won her first match against Shahar Peer, but then immediately pulled out of the tournament, citing a right shoulder injury.

On Friday, Azarenka said via Twitter that she had to play in the first game in order to protect her position at the top of the world rankings.

However, Sharapova said the Belarussian was "injured more than anyone" and was often seen "practising two days later".

"I was conflicted and disappointed to withdraw from Rome," Azarenka said. "I tried my hardest but I wasn't healthy going into the tournament.

"If WTA rules were different then I could have focused on getting healthy, but I could not afford another zero pointer on my ranking.

"Hopefully in the future there will be more protection for players' rights."

A "zero pointer" means players have to include that particular tournament in their ranking calculations and cannot replace it with another.
Sharapova said Azarenka had a history of injuries and withdrawals.

"She's been injured more than anyone and still stayed number one," Sharapova said.

"Last year I think she had more injuries than anyone else. Sometimes she'll withdraw and then you'll see her practising two days later."

Sharapova, who had to take almost a year off because of a shoulder surgery, said staying fit was more important to her than paying a fine or losing points.

"For me, if I'm injured, then it doesn't matter how much the fine is, I am not going to play," she said.

"My body and my health are the most important things and if you lose points or have a fine, I don't care about that."

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/18052012/2/tennis-sharapova-slams-azarenka-blaming-wta-rules.html
 
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#98 ·
I like. I so hope for a response from Azarenka :lol:
I don't think this was out of bitterness, it's a very sensible answer.
Well, Maria was asked the question but I'm surprised with how long an answer she gave.

This thread is getting good already.
 
#103 ·
You would think someone who has had serious injuries would be more understanding towards a fellow injured player. She is so pressed it's not even funny anymore.
 
#110 ·
why would sharapova, who has had serious injuries that has threatened her career, be understanding to a player she obviously thinks both abuses MTO's and retires/withdraws when not really injured?
 
#106 ·
sharapova is right, but all 5 of vika's fans though will argue she is victimised and just ignore 95% of tennis fans, players and alike not liking her or the way she goes about things like this.
 
#181 ·
Glad u figure this out and is my sentiments exactly. Once u strip the "appeal to pity" off pova's statement, the underlying thruth cannot be denied. Pova is just bitter Vika denied her the No.1 spot. Maria realizes Serena is fast climbing up the rankings and her opportunity to "warm" the spot for Serena may now be gone and out of reach for a long time to come particularly in the most likely event Serena wins Rome, RG, WB and OG.
 
#119 ·
Yeah at some point the media will catch onto this full force, the WTA will thrive and people will actually attend press conferences. The best part is that they play each other regularly, so new drama every week. Sharapova is the professional, who hides her lowblows behind a stonecold face, while Radwanska and Azarenka say and tweet whatever they want, whenever they want. No PR/WTA managed Twitter accounts, just shooting from the hip. It´s awesome. :lol:
 
#109 ·
Rankings points and money are Victorias concerns. Not that Maia just slammed her But on a financial stand point and career stand point she is levels above her. So to pay a fine to Maria is like giving a quarter to a Gumball machine. Where for Vika it is the complete opposite. And the comments about her practicing etc? If that's what Vika does I don't see wrong in Maria speaking of what she sees happening. It's how someone takes it. For me i could care less that Victoria does that. To each his own ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
#178 ·
Thank you. Loved it. :lol:

It's true the WTA looked like one big, happy sorority while Wozniacki was #1. But then again, she was never seen as a real threat so noone bothered. :lol: Now you can clearly see that the amount of bitchiness on the tour goes hand in hand with the amount of competitiveness. Good sign I guess. :lol:
 
#160 · (Edited)
I think it will be more like this:

My blushing Belorussian beauty.
 
#125 ·
If Azarenka knew she would be withdrawing from the tournament, she shouldn't have played, accepted the fine, and let another girl have a chance at progressing further. Peer got screwed over the most by this. Azarenka continues to show that she is not a deserving No.1 by her poor attitude and disrespect towards the WTA and tournaments and her fans. Go away so Maria (or Serena) can be where she rightfully belongs.
 
#126 ·
Anyway I love that Vika is now embracing her inner Money Mayweather. No more of this memorized "I loye you crowd, thank you very much for your support and for attending our WTA matches" shit the WTA fed her to gain popularity, when only 100 people actually bothered to show up and supported her opponent anyway. Pretty Boy Floyd was never paid like Money Mayweather. Go Vika make Stacy cry for the days of the Sunshine era. Now it´s the Dark Ages era. :devil:
 
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#289 ·
The is the most expansive dissing statement I have ever seen her make, it almost reads as a prepared statement, covering all angles.
She was not really addressing any issue or making any statement about Vika's injury.
Contrary to many posters here, I don't think Pova cares about the history of WTA MTOs in 2012 (let alone in 2011 :lol:

This is just a plain naked hardcore Pova diss: "You crossed the line in Stuttgart bitch, so fuck you".
 
#132 ·
I doubt Maria actually cares about this particular withdrawal, she's probably like everyone else just sick and tired of Azarenka being a sore loser and claiming injuries whenever she loses and then mysteriously recovering her fitness within days, and this was a good opportunity to get that dig in. She's probably been dying to take her down a peg or two all year - that was probably extra motivation for her in Stuttgart, the opportunity to get to say things like this without looking bitter :hearts:

I'm sure if it turns out this is actually a serious injury and Azarenka ends up withdrawing from RG then Maria would happily apologise. But... Crying Wolf Syndrome and all that.
 
#137 ·
Светльо;21448193 said:
Martha was asked and gave her honest opinion on the matter - plain and simple. She does make some good points in her answer. In her whole career Maria has retired just three times, not to mention that she actually finished against Domachowska in Canada.

As to Azarenka nothing needs to be said but:

That is quite as impressive record as they come
 
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