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the cat · Nov 14th, 2001, 07:43 PM

Maybe it's too soon to call her the real deal. But all signs are pointing to Maria having an outstanding career. Fourteen year old Maria Sharapova has won 3 of the 5 ITF 18u tournaments she has played. And in those 3 titles, she has wiped out the field with unbelievable scores! Maria has had a great start to her 18u career. She won her first tournament in the Czech Republic. In five matches, Maria lost an average of 3.8 games per match. Her second title was a Chanda Rubin tournament in California. Maria lost 16 games in 4 matches. Which is an average losing 4 games per match. Her third 18u title came at another Chanda Rubin tournament. This one was in South Carolina. In 5 matches, Maria lost a mere 17 games. Which averages losing only 3.4 games per match. Remember, I'm talking matches and not sets. These are schockingly lopsided scores and matches. It's even more impressive when you realize that the "Russian Lynx" has only recently started her 18u career. It's not like she 's 16 or 17 and posting these scores. Maria is a 5'8" 105 pound 14 year old Amazon (wink wink!), who is throwing her weight around, so to speak, and showing a killer instict I haven't seen before in a Russian female tennis player. Let's hope she can continue to develope and take her killer instinct to the WTA tour. Udachi Maria!

[ November 15, 2001: Message edited by: the cat in the hat ]

Nov 14th, 2001, 09:39 PM

lets hope the fame wont go to her head, even anna has some sort of pride about not ever getting big headed to any extreme. but with the way maria pops off she may be as bad as the williams sisters ( nothing meant by this statement) and become so righteous and blah blah blah, im sure you kno what i mean. a very young talented and beautiful girl with all the attention she gets/ will be getting im afraid for her. <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" />

but I must hope that she can further help the russian federation's tennis and everything and that she lives up to her expectations, because you dont want anyone to have to live with that failure in their face and yeah...

GO OLGA!!!!!!!! ( we all know youll kill maria in doubles <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> )

Martian KC · Nov 15th, 2001, 02:32 AM

Yes, it is a little bit too soon. Let's see her winning top junior titles and beating top ranked juniors before we say anything. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Go Maria!!! <img src="graemlins/kiss.gif" border="0" alt="[Kiss]" />

**TheBoiledEgg** · Nov 15th, 2001, 03:47 AM

winning Chanda Rubin events is a little early , those events are very small even on the junior scale.

Maria will get better and stronger , she has to play Eddie Herr and see how she fares there against some much better World ranked juniors.

I know she will cope.

Anna K won her only BIG junior event at 14, she won Orange Bowl in 1995.

the cat · Nov 15th, 2001, 02:22 PM

Eggy, don't compare Maria to Anna at 14. Anna was playing the 18's at 13. Because of the WTA's age restriction rule, there is no need to rush youngsters into playing the 18's. Hence, team Sharapova held her back from playing the 18's because of the WTA's well intended but misguided age restriction rule. That's why you'll never see a 12 year old junior girl like Martina Hingis, winning the junior French Open.

P.S. - The Pea, who is Dahveed, and why don't you like his signature?

[ November 15, 2001: Message edited by: the cat in the hat ]

[ November 18, 2001: Message edited by: the cat in the hat ]

**TheBoiledEgg** · Nov 15th, 2001, 02:38 PM

Dahveed is one of the administators

and his signature is like Pea's same format but it says "How do you like my signature" ?

Comparing her was wrong but I don't wanna get carried away just yet.

Martian KC · Nov 15th, 2001, 04:28 PM

LOL, Dahveed is my nemesis! <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

Don't worry, Maria will have lots of time to kick everyone's butts! <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

Nov 16th, 2001, 04:33 AM

stupid age restrictions...

if you got it flaunt it!!!!

 olga puchkova has been competing in 18's since she was barely 13 and 1 or 2 months old <img src="graemlins/hearts.gif" border="0" alt="[Hearts]" />

i really care about comparing olga and maria....hmm.....

should i be happy for maria <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> or bitter and angry for my future wife olga who i love so much more! <img src="graemlins/firey.gif" border="0" alt="[Fiery]" /> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="redface.gif" border="0">

unless of course olga and maria are friends....then i can only be <img src="redface.gif" border="0"> or jealous or osmething of marias single success. if maria breaks through in doubles as well i really will love-hate her. damn, why does she do this to me!

 olga you must improve, challenge tatiana and maria....for me <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" /> ......

neorules · Nov 16th, 2001, 07:18 AM

We may soon find out aittle about Marias' ability. She is sceduled to play in a Exhibition in Denver at the end of the month against Bethanie Mattek as a lead in to the Seles Kournakova Main Match M.S fundraiser. Rumor has it that Seles-Mattek may take on Kournakova-Sharapova in dbls as well <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" />

Martian KC · Nov 16th, 2001, 01:30 PM

Maria wants to play with Anna? <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

~SunFlower~ · Nov 16th, 2001, 01:53 PM

Neorules, I would appreciate if you give us the source where you got the information about Maria playing in Biogen MS Tennis Classic? The website hasn't mentioned her name or Bethanie Mattek. <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

I don't believe anything what people including you post the information without any source. Why is it so hard for you not to post the information with the source.

Maria is expected to be playing in Eddie Herr tournament in the week of Nov 26. We will find out in about a week and see if she is in the draw.

I was thinking that if Maria isn't playing in Eddie Herr, she possibly plays in USTA 50K - W. Columbia in the same week as Eddie Herr but it can't be!

[ November 16, 2001: Message edited by: Sharky ]

the cat · Nov 16th, 2001, 02:03 PM

Thank you for your thoughts and your time. Your time is my time. And my time is your time!

P.S. - Neorules, you seem to know alot. Do you know if the Kournikova-Seles match is going to be on U.S. television? And as far as I know, Maria Sharapova doesn't play doubles. So I doubt that the Kournikova/Sharapova versus Seles/Mattek doubles match will take place. Although it would be great if it did.

P.S. - Sharky, you didn't respond to my thread, "is it too soon to say Maria Sharapova is the real deal"?

neorules · Nov 16th, 2001, 07:40 PM

I know there is an EXHIBITION for M.S. Fundraiser in Denver. Seles and Kournakova are headliners. I believe the format is 8 game pro sets. Last I knew the junior girls were Maria vs Bethanie. I know Bethanie has her tickets and lodging already. THe dbls. thing is rumor. It may be televised locally but that would probably be it. With tickets being $50-$250 a seat they most likely want you to show up and enjoy!

the cat · Nov 16th, 2001, 07:46 PM

Thanks Neo!

~SunFlower~ · Nov 17th, 2001, 02:35 AM

Hey CatHat,

Yes, I do think it's too early to say that Maria is a big deal! But she is a big deal in my heart as always! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

I very much believe that she will win a few WTA titles before she turns to 18. I just know it!

Looks like Maria tends to be playing in singles and no doubles like Steffi Graf. It would be nice if Maria plays in doubles but I am not worried. Singles are what I pay my attention the most!