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Freakan · Dec 6th, 2009, 11:58 AM

She's only 11 so we'll have to wait a few years before she starts playing junior tournaments but she seems sooo impressive. She just won Eddie Herr U12 without dropping a set. After destroying almost all of her opponents she beat Tornado Ali Black 6:1 6:0 in the final.
She's originally from Kazakhstan but now represents USA.
Here's an interview with her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiMEJbECx18

Kutuzova · Dec 6th, 2009, 03:24 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGFeT...eature=channel

here is a video of her from the final...she is a big talent....i see her having a big future

simonsaystennis · Dec 6th, 2009, 04:42 PM

Wonderful! The United States is really building a solid future for tennis. Starting from about this year's "senior class" downward we have at least two-three girls who are solid in each graduating year.

hellas719 · Dec 7th, 2009, 03:27 AM

Never heard of her

GL to her!!

I think that she'll end up playing for KAZ since they are good at attracting players

jusluvinjrtennis · Dec 10th, 2009, 12:42 AM

Just curious - will American accept a "manufactured" player? Or do we REALLY want a home grown top 10?
For the record - IMG is backing this girl to a figure of $200,000 per year. They went to Eastern Europe - found a cute, blond, kid that could play a little, brought her over here, worked on her accent ( she literally has no Eastern European accent ), Supporting her and her mother full time. She trains all day with a private coach - NO GROUP LESSONS FOR THIS ONE! She has several lessons per week in front of the camera and they "socialize" her with the other kids so she has a cute
personality. They are correcting all of the issues with Sharapova. Remember when Sharapova first starting winning? She wasn't all that great in front of the camera. And since she was from Russia - the USA never really got behind her really strong. ( Except for supporting her as a great player.) This is the Bollettieri
"machine" at its best. She's definitely a good player. I want to be clear on that. I'm not criticizing her at all. Just wanted everyone's opinion on the
"playing for the USA" thing.

simonsaystennis · Dec 10th, 2009, 01:09 AM

Maria Sharapova might as well be American. I bet she spends more time in the states than in Russia.

I'll accept any player that considers themselves and American. She has been raised here for so long that she considers America her home and that's good enough for me. Will the rest of America? As long as she's good, decent looking, and has a cute/nice personality, I don't think she'll have an issue.

hellas719 · Dec 10th, 2009, 04:18 AM

I was just kidding becasue Kazakhstan has a history of stealing players from other countries

Freakan · Dec 11th, 2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jusluvinjrtennis

Just curious - will American accept a "manufactured" player? Or do we REALLY want a home grown top 10?
For the record - IMG is backing this girl to a figure of $200,000 per year. They went to Eastern Europe - found a cute, blond, kid that could play a little, brought her over here, worked on her accent ( she literally has no Eastern European accent ), Supporting her and her mother full time. She trains all day with a private coach - NO GROUP LESSONS FOR THIS ONE! She has several lessons per week in front of the camera and they "socialize" her with the other kids so she has a cute
personality. They are correcting all of the issues with Sharapova. Remember when Sharapova first starting winning? She wasn't all that great in front of the camera. And since she was from Russia - the USA never really got behind her really strong. ( Except for supporting her as a great player.) This is the Bollettieri
"machine" at its best. She's definitely a good player. I want to be clear on that. I'm not criticizing her at all. Just wanted everyone's opinion on the
"playing for the USA" thing.

Thanks for sharing

How do you know all that?
Looking at rankings of the youngest generation of American girls - that's the future of American tennis. So many of these girls come from Eastern Europe, some of them probably were born in USA (like Nefedova - I think).

jusluvinjrtennis · Dec 13th, 2009, 12:38 AM

I took my son to Bollettieri's a month or so ago. His interest level is at about a 6 or 7. He really enjoys soccer. My daughter however, is only 7 but is actually very good and absolutely loves the game. So as I spent my week there ( of which I will NEVER do again ) I was paying particular attention to the girls that were training there. So to answer your question of how I know this - unfortunately it was not hard to see. Its quite glaring the attention that is being paid to this little girl. And with a question or 2 here or there - the pieces of the puzzle came together. I am by nature very inquisitive and perceptive. Its quite apparent that the other kids that go there paying their $30K to 50K per year are simply paying this girls way to the top. (her or one or two like her I should say)

Overall -was very disappointed at Bollettieri's.

I do agree with you that kids from other countries that come to the USA may in fact be the future of american tennis. We have some very good kids coming thru so we will see.

Thanks for your input!

Freakan · Dec 13th, 2009, 01:11 PM

Thanks again

And good luck to your daughter

simonsaystennis · Dec 15th, 2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jusluvinjrtennis

I took my son to Bollettieri's a month or so ago. His interest level is at about a 6 or 7. He really enjoys soccer. My daughter however, is only 7 but is actually very good and absolutely loves the game. So as I spent my week there ( of which I will NEVER do again ) I was paying particular attention to the girls that were training there. So to answer your question of how I know this - unfortunately it was not hard to see. Its quite glaring the attention that is being paid to this little girl. And with a question or 2 here or there - the pieces of the puzzle came together. I am by nature very inquisitive and perceptive. Its quite apparent that the other kids that go there paying their $30K to 50K per year are simply paying this girls way to the top. (her or one or two like her I should say)

Overall -was very disappointed at Bollettieri's.

I do agree with you that kids from other countries that come to the USA may in fact be the future of american tennis. We have some very good kids coming thru so we will see.

Thanks for your input!

Thank you very much for this info. I've heard a lot of stories about the "darker" side to Bollettieri's. I don't know if I could send my kids there either. Regardless of how he decides to run his academy, I hope it doesn't harm Mariya in any way.

Good luck to your daughter! Hope she succeeds in the future!

hellas719 · Dec 17th, 2009, 03:54 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/...ame=bodo_peter

Uranium · Dec 18th, 2009, 01:36 AM

Oh she's a little cutie pie.

Reminds me of Anna Chakvetadze.

Natash. · Dec 21st, 2009, 05:44 AM

She's adorable

Seems to be very talented. Hits a clean ball. Good luck to her

I'll root for her.

Freakan · Dec 22nd, 2009, 01:48 AM

Mariya lost in QF of Orange Bowl to Francoise Abanda (who is 1 year older) 6:7(8) 7:5 2:6. She must have been extremely tired in the 3rd set as she played already 2 matches (5 sets) yesterday. But well done anyway