[NewShoulderPlz.]

1:04pm Mooloo Maria? (Arn/Sharapova 4-1)

I'm not sure on the rules regarding instruments here at the ASB Tennis Centre but it would appear there's a lone Waikato fan here supporting Sharapova. Everytime the Russian wins a point the cow bell rings and while it's no vuvuzela, I'm unsure if you'd get away with that at Wimbledon?

Meanwhile Sharapova looks to be struggling on court against 31 year old Greta Arn.


1:26pm Sluggish Sharapova (Arn/Sharapova 6-2)

After an obsession from parts of the media about Sharapova's dreams this week, she's had anything but a dream start to her quarter-final dropping the first set to WTA 'journey-woman' Greta Arn. I missed the second half of the set while at the Wickmayer press conference but ONE News' own Simon Dallow confirmed she's 'looking sluggish.'

I imagine there's a few Sharapova fans sitting on tickets for the next two days feeling a bit nervous about now.

Wickmayer was understandably happy with her performance today and reckons after a few more practices serving in the Auckland win she'll be ready for tomorrow's semi.

In other news, after discussion with the other media here I'm unsure if the ringing mentioned in my last post is in fact a cow bell but I will continue my investigations.

2:16pm Sharapova over (Arn/Sharapova 6-2 7-5)

What an upset. The top seed and probably the biggest name in the tournament's history has been knocked out by little known Hungarian Greta Arn. A disappointment to fans I'm sure.

Arn spoke well after the match telling the crowd when she feels like a little girl whose dream's come true, never mind that she's seven years Sharapova's senior!

Time for a press conference, I'm told she won't hang around long.

2:29pm Arn explained

Well I've done the research and it would appear this is the biggest win of Greta Arn's 15 year career. The highest ranked player she'd beaten previously was world No. 28 Alona Bondarenko. In her decade and a half as a pro she's had one WTA title win and won around $US500,000. Her highest ranking is 81 and she didn't achieve that until last year.

Still no word on whether Sharapova will speak to the media.

3:30pm Arn explained part two (Peng/Watson 6-4)

After attending the press conferences of both the players I feel a bit more enlightened about the unknown underdog Greta Arn. Turns out Arn turned pro when she was 17 but a few years into her career a dodgy agent "put her in the red numbers" as she put it, forcing her out of tennis for three years as she had to find a day job - in the media of all industries.

Sharapova was more circumspect when speaking to the press but answered all the questions put to her ina her utterly professional manner. She says she's unsure of her plans between now and the start of the Australian Open next Monday but a wildcard at an event in Sydney looks likely.

http://tvnz.co.nz/tennis-asb-classic...y-four-3993178

[Sharapovian]

"I started off really slow, got down two breaks and I think she gained a tremendous amount of confidence from that," said Sharapova.

"I had my chances in the second set but I didn't play the same way I had played to get there. Obviously I would have loved to play a few more here and be the winner, but that's the way it goes. You look forward to the next one.

"That's the good thing about tennis."

Rest of the Article is about Heather Watson
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/9342952.stm

Sorry if this has been posted already, I checked back a few pages but I may have missed this.

[Maria Croft]

Bla bla bla, she always says the same things, if she know she should play aggressive and play her own game, why is it so difficult for her to do it when she's actually playing? What's holding her back?

It seems that after her heartbreaking loss again the weather... I mean Clijsters she hasn't been the same, her loss to Wozniacki seems to have 'pushed' her over the edge.

[cyannnnn]

i'm not worry about her performance before the AO.
of me, she doesn't want that others girls see her game so she plays one or two matches and she doesn't force herself.

[Break My Rapture]

Please play Sydney. Please girl do it, it's for the best.

[Светльо]

Originally Posted by Pieterenka

Please play Sydney. Please girl do it, it's for the best.

Why to get double bagelled

[Break My Rapture]

Originally Posted by Svetlio

Why to get double bagelled

She needs to keep practicing hard. And if she wins 1 match there, it would do wonders for her confidence. There are no easy first rounds there. At least she'll face decent opponents this time.

[Sharapovian]

TennisReporters

Just heard Sharapova will not take a WC into Sydney

[CROUCHING TIGER]

Here she played lucky losers and quallies. And u would her in Sydney? LOL...poor Masha.

[Craig.]

Ffs Mashenka

Another week of that off-season training ftw

[Break My Rapture]

No. No. No. No, just no.

[Светльо]

Originally Posted by Yazoo.C

TennisReporters

Just heard Sharapova will not take a WC into Sydney

Having watched her play last night I am kinda glad. Considering Sydney's field she would have been trashed if played like yesterday. Just hope for an easy first round opponent at the OZ or maybe a miracle. Pulling a Serena '07 run is beyond science fiction.

[rochelle100]

From Maria's Facebook:

Maria Sharapova

Disappointing week for me, but I am trying to make some small changes in my game and it is going to take time. I know all my hard work the past 2 months is going to pay off down the road. I am off to Melbourne to get back to work.

[Sharapovian]

What changes?

Well good to hear she knows this was disappointing and that she is going to get back to work

[Marilyn Monheaux]

Originally Posted by Yazoo.C

What changes?

Well good to hear she knows this was disappointing and that she is going to get back to work

Why small?