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** Masha News and Articles! ** Vol. 2

490K views 5K replies 229 participants last post by  jameshazza 
#1 ·
Hi everyone :wavey:

Thought maybe we could use a thread here to post all the news, interviews, and articles we find on Masha. :)

I just got my new Tennis Week magazine and Maria is on the cover again (she was also on the March cover). :eek:

If they haven't been posted already, I'll scan in the pics and article and post them here later.
 
#4,497 · (Edited)
I actually LOVE Maria's presser. She wasn't bitchy, just being herself. The statement about Simon is nowhere as bitchy as I thought it would be.
About Masha being left-handed. I can just say WOW. She is pretty good with her right hand... I was watching clips from that Open Court (or how was it called) show that she filmed when she was a teenager, she holds the camera in her right hand, I, for example, am not very confident in filming left-handed...
 
#4,501 ·
M. SHARAPOVA/H. Su‑Wei 6‑1, 6‑4

MARIA SHARAPOVA

Q. How difficult did you find the wind today?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it was certainly different than the previous two matches. But, you know, going into the warmup, you know it’s going to be out there. You feel it. It’s pretty much the same for your opponent.

I think it’s just about being patient and, you know, maybe a little bit smarter. But, yeah, overall it was all right. Considering the conditions, I’m pretty happy with the way I played.


Q. Did you ever recall a serve before where the ball bounced before it got to the net?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, yeah, I’m sure I have. A lot in practice.



Q. Did you see any of the men’s match last night?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Just the end, the last few games.



Q. What is your reaction?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: The reaction? It was either that or the soccer. I think that’s better for me, at least.

Well, I mean, when the guy’s firing missiles left and right, going for broke, I think it’s one of those days.

Obviously, you know, I’m sure Rafa feels it was unfortunate he was the one across the net. Yeah, it’s tennis. We can never underestimate who we’re going up against.

We always say how you can be ranked 1 or 100, and they still have to put the net up for you to play the match. That’s why we’re here.



Q. Do you think it’s harder as a player to take a loss like that when it’s not expected?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, losses are tough in any circumstance. Obviously when you’re in a fifth set it’s probably extremely difficult because it was back and forth, back and forth.

I mean, you can be in the final of a Grand Slam or second round, and at the end of the day there’s only one winner. That’s what makes the game so special, is because you have so many players. The feeling of winning is extra special because you’re the only one, you know, and everyone is going home.

As sad as that sounds, it’s really the reality of it. But yet that’s what we aim to do. We aim to win. We aim to be that one.



Q. I’m sorry to have to ask this question. I’m sure you get peppered with these questions all the time, but it’s relevant because the opponent you play on Monday, Lisicki she moaned about her second‑round opponent, Jovanovski, based on the amount of noise she made across the net. The noise was toned down. In a similar situation, would you talk to the umpire? Would you even react to it? Have you been in that situation before?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I haven’t been in that situation, and if I am, I’ll tell you about it after.



Q. Are you progressing through the tournament?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, you have to improve with every match. That’s my goal, within these two weeks, is to get better as you face more challenging opponents.

The last two matches have been tough. I feel like they were really good grass court players. The ball stayed extremely low, so quite dangerous.

In today’s conditions, I think it evens out the level a little bit. Yeah, of course, I’m happy to be in the fourth round, but there’s always room for improvement.



Q. I wanted to ask about your opponent today. It was the first time she played on No. 1 Court. Were there elements of her game that surprised you?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, do you think she played like that because she was on Court 1? I think she just always plays like that.

I faced her many times in the juniors. She used to be a nightmare for me because she used to slice and dropshot on clay. I was like, Where did they learn how to play tennis like that? Uses both hands, switches racquets.

We used to have real battles in the juniors, and we haven’t played since then. I knew her game really well. I don’t think she had time to do all of that today on grass. If I’m hitting a hard‑paced shot, I don’t think she really has time to create, which is something that she really likes to do. That’s her game, is to hit a lot of dropshots and slices and get people kind of crazy.



Q. Are you eager to wipe out your reputation as a clay court specialist?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Since when did that start (smiling)?



Q. Two weeks ago.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I don’t know. That’s not for me to say.



Q. How has the transition been to grass, and how are you thinking now that you’ve mastered really all surfaces?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered all the surfaces. You can never feel satisfied with whatever you have achieved or not. You always have to look for something else or else you’re never going to have any motivation. I always feel like I can be better in anything that I play. That’s what gets me going.

But, yeah, as far as the transition, I enjoy it. The points are obviously not so long. But I feel like you learn so much on the clay: the point construction, the movement, the rallies. You see it so much better.

You come here and it’s really about the first two shots. If you’re on the defense, pretty tough to win the points. I mean, over the years it’s certainly slowed down, but it’s still in the same sort of line.



Q. (No microphone.)

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I mean, I feel like over the years so many things have changed. Even I look back to when I won here in ’04, I mean, the speed of this court was quite different. I think it was much faster than it is now. Look back five years before that and it was like another story.

So, I mean, racquets, technologies, we always change balls, so many new things always go on, everyone always tries to look for the better and the bigger. I think the game just kind of changed a little bit as the years go on.
 
#4,502 ·
M. SHARAPOVA/H. Su‑Wei 6‑1, 6‑4

Q. I’m sorry to have to ask this question. I’m sure you get peppered with these questions all the time, but it’s relevant because the opponent you play on Monday, Lisicki she moaned about her second‑round opponent, Jovanovski, based on the amount of noise she made across the net. The noise was toned down. In a similar situation, would you talk to the umpire? Would you even react to it? Have you been in that situation before?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I haven’t been in that situation, and if I am, I’ll tell you about it after.
:lol: Maria knows nobody's gonna be trying to get her to quiet down any time soon. Although I would love to see her reaction if Lisicki tries this on Monday :devil:
 
#4,503 ·
Lisicki and Maria have played before. If she hadn't complained before, why now? Maria has been grunting since she was 7years old. She's not going to change for anyone. Just like her routines of turning her back on her opponents between points. They are all part of her winning game.

The media have nothing to talk about so they keep repeating the same questions. Like a gramophone needle stuck in a groove.
 
#4,504 ·
Maria has signed a new three year deal to extend her role as evian® brand ambassador.

Adam Grant, Managing Director of Danone Waters UK and Ireland Ltd, parent company of evian® said:

'I am delighted with this double dose of fantastic news. We feel incredibly honoured that the extraordinarily talented Maria will be our ambassador for another three years and wish her the very best of luck for this year's Championships.'

Michael Aiden, evian® Global Brand Director said:

'The whole evian® team is very proud of having Maria as an ambassador. Our first partnership started when she was just back from injury and her fantastic comeback is a great source of inspiration for all of us. Maria loves the brand and epitomises the idea of healthy living with a touch of glamour, everything evian® stands for all around the world.'

Women's world number one Maria Sharapova said:

'I am really excited to continue my relationship with evian®. We have had so much fun working together and I look forward to 'Living young' for another three years.'

To celebrate The Championships, Wimbledon, 2012, evian® will serve up a huge range of activities, starting with a real-time evian® Ball Hunt, sampling in SW19 and a Live young container to refresh Wimbledon fans in the queue. Thanks to a partnership with The All England Lawn Tennis Club, evian® will also bring a series of videos capturing all the behind the scenes gossip, fashion and atmosphere to Wimbledon.com.
 
#4,505 ·
S. LISICKI/M. Sharapova 6‑4, 6‑3

MARIA SHARAPOVA


Q. How frustrating was it and how crucial was the first set?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, certainly had chances; I didn’t take them. But I think I a lot of the credit goes to my opponent. She played extremely well today and did many things better than I did on this given day. You just have to hand it to her.


Q. Was her serving very well? Was that the key point?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I mean, that’s a big part of her game. I mean, here it helps her extremely, extremely well.



Q. Were you surprised because you were coming in feeling very good and she just played well, or was it because you played a long French Open and you weren’t quite feeling yourself the last couple of weeks?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I feel extremely well. Why shouldn’t I?

No, like I said, she did many things much better than I did today. Of course, could have done things differently, absolutely, but not on this particular day.



Q. You mentioned the level of her game today. In general, what are your thoughts on the place she might take among the top players, yourself included?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: She’s always had that potential. Obviously she did really well here last year getting to the semifinals. I haven’t really followed her results too much in the last year.

You know, I mean, if she plays at this level, of course she belongs at the top. If she serves as well as she did today and is as aggressive as she was, there’s no doubt she has a lot of potential.

You know, it goes for saying that it’s not just about one tournament; you have to do it for as many tournaments as you play or as much as you can obviously.



Q. Beyond the serve, what do you consider the best parts of her game?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, she stays really low. She’s a strong girl. She hits the ball really hard. If you don’t get a good first ball on her, I mean, she likes to be the aggressive one and likes to start the point with a really heavy shot.



Q. Was there a turning point in this game when you started to realize it was going to get tough today?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: There’s not one moment in the match where you think like that. I mean, I was down 2‑5, got back on serve, and I had opportunities for it to be 5‑All. Played a few sloppy points and she raised her level.

That just wasn’t a good combination for me. And, yeah, I mean, that was the first set. She came after the rain delay really firing.



Q. Could you step back for a moment and talk about the European swing, Stuttgart, Rome, Paris, then the loss here.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved. Obviously, as tough as it is to sit here being an athlete after a loss ‑ it’s only been 30, 40 minutes, you know ‑ you always try to take away as many positives as you can.

Obviously, you can only use it as motivation. It will be nice to rest for a little bit and be in a home atmosphere. I’ve missed it for over two months.

But, yeah, once I relax a little bit, I’m sure to use this as great motivation and keep going after the many goals that I have.



Q. Is the Roland Garros‑Wimbledon back to back as tough a challenge in women’s tennis as anything?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It is, but it’s certainly no excuse. Everyone has to go about it as best as they can, yeah.



Q. You talk about the motivation you would take out of here. How would the possible loss of the top ranking that you have worked your way into play into that?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I’m not sure. I don’t know. It’s all kind of irrelevant at this point. Obviously what I achieved a few weeks ago doesn’t just go away in a few minutes. I’ll have that for the rest of my career.

But the tennis world always keeps going. You have to raise your level at that point, even when your opponent plays really great tennis. Just today wasn’t my day.

But as far as that motivation, of course you want to stay at the top as long as you can. Obviously everyone guns for that spot, as it is the top spot.



Q. What were the main differences in her game from when you played in Melbourne?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don’t really like to compare previous encounters because they’re always different. That was a three‑set match on hard court. This is grass; it’s completely different; it’s not comparable.



Q. Is it tougher to win Wimbledon today than it was when you last won it?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don’t know. I don’t know how to answer that. I mean, nothing is easy, certainly not a Wimbledon title.

So I don’t know if it’s easier or tougher now than it was years ago but I don’t think it’s ever easier.



Q. Do you think there’s more players perhaps that might be able to catch a hot day?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, anyone can. I think anyone has a chance. The girl I played today obviously performed well here, so it’s not a big surprise she can go out and play a great grass court match.



Q. Was today one of those days where you said it doesn’t matter how hard you fight, change strategy, if the quality doesn’t come, she’s going to get you anyway?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Maybe I can think about it like now, but not really during the match. You always try to find ways to get into it, even if you feel your level is just not there. Maybe you’re just a little slow, you try to pump yourself up.

Maybe if I look back now, I think yeah. But not in the moment of the match.



Q. Last week with Nadal’s loss there was plenty of discussion on the depth on the men’s tour where on any day any top 100 player could beat one of the best. What are your thoughts on the lessons about the depth on the women’s tour?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I don’t think it’s a lesson really for the players. I think it’s a lesson more for the storylines. We never really underestimate any opponents, and that’s the reason why ‑‑ if people are going to be considered favorites in matchups and tournaments, obviously everyone’s job here is to have those storylines.

At the end of the day, the reason we start at the first round is you have to go through all those opponents to get to the final stage of a tournament, whether it’s a Grand Slam or the middle of nowhere. That’s the reason we go out and play.

It could be the No. 1 seed against someone that’s, you know, come out of the woods. It doesn’t matter, you still have to go and play and win.

On any given day, of course there can be an upset. That’s the sport. That’s why we watch.
 
#4,513 ·
I flied only 2 times in my life, I wonder would it be so bad to fly all that time? :lol: I don't think so.. unless you've to deal with jet lag every time I guess :p
 
#4,514 ·
Well unless you're on First Class every time you're basically sitting there for one whole day and can't find the right position to sleep comfortably. :lol: I recently found a way to sleep better though :hearts: Basically you bring down the table in front of you, put a pillow there, and sleep there just like on a desk in a classroom. :worship:
 
#4,518 ·
Maria did fly private once in Europe, so did several times in USA. But I doubt she flies private between continents.
 
#4,519 ·
from maria's Facebook :

Here is a picture we took right before Wimbe...all the team girls wearing my Nike collection.
Getting all five of us together for a picture took longer than designing the collection itself but it turned out to be quite fun(ny). Do we smile, look extremely serious, or pretend like we're reunited buddies?! Well, how about a little bit of each! And who told Iveta she could have her hair down? I did not get that memo!!
Thank you girls for representing my line and making it look tres chic.
 
#4,520 ·
From Maria's website:

Second half of 2012 schedule
After the Olympics, Maria will play two hardcourt events before the US Open at Montreal and Cincinnati.

Maria will head to Montreal to play the Rogers Cup which begins on August 7th and then try to defend her title at the Western & Southern Open in Cinncinati and that begins one week later.

Maria will then take a week off to prepare for the final Grand Slam of the year at the US Open in New York which begins on August 25th.

After the US Open, Maria will play two events on the Asian leg of the calendar: Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo which will begin on September 29th and the China Open in Beijing which begins a week later.

Maria hasn't officially qualified for the final event of the year at the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of October but there is a very strong chance she will with her record so far this year.
Predictable and same as every year but I like this schedule. Only biggest and most important tournaments.
 
#4,529 ·
There were rumours that Maria flies to London on 18th... Too late if you ask me. :tape:
 
#4,530 ·
Too Late :spit:
She has just spent the last 2.5 months on the road in Europe so she fucking deserves and NEEDS this break. In fact, it is too little of a break. The Games start on the 28th so if she indeed is making her way to London on the 18th, it even seems a bit early having in mind her whole schedule.
Obviously, sometimes as fans we do get carried away and forget that after all she is a normal human being who has its needs and not a machine for titles and stuff.
 
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