[spiceboy]

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18220576-23216,00.html



Sharapova insists she is Russian
From correspondents in Dubai
February 21, 2006

MARIA Sharapova has launched a vigorous attack on those who say she has never played Federation Cup for Russia because she doesn't want to.

"There are so many rumours about me which are untrue and that's one of them," she said. "Some of them are so untrue you just have to laugh at them.

"It's quite untrue that I don't want to play for Russia. I have a Russian heart," insisted the 19-year-old who has lived for most of the past decade in Florida, with increasing gossip that she might become a naturalised American.

"I play for my country," Sharapova went on. "When you see the draw at a tournament you see my country, Russia, next to my name.
"Unfortunately in my career I don't get as much time to spend there as I would like, but when I go that's where I feel like I belong.

It's the way of life and the culture. I lived there for seven years, and every time I go back and hear people speaking Russian, or when I call and order room service in Russia it feels so cool it's amazing to see and hear it again. That's where I feel comfortable."

Agence France-Presse

 

[-VSR-]

Sharapova....Russian.... :spit: :haha:

Nah... just kidding.

 

[hablo]

I really hope she plays Fed cup this year,
so that people will stop with this nonesense already.
The girl says she's Russian.
She is.
Period!

 

[Volcana]

She certainly speaks American English with a Russian accent. And being over 18, and a resident for as long as she has been, she could apply for U.S. citizenship if she wanted to.

 

[vogus]

She certainly speaks American English with a Russian accent. And being over 18, and a resident for as long as she has been, she could apply for U.S. citizenship if she wanted to.

I thought you were the marketing guru. In that case you would understand the marketing advantages of Sharapova remaining a Russian citizen despite being a de facto American. The hot blonde Russian marketing model is a proven seller. That's what this is all about for Team Sharapova.

Maria speaks English with a Russian accent? It sounds a lot like an American accent to me. And she speaks Russian with an American accent as well.

 

[Rocketta]

She may help herself with this problem if after she loses in Moscow again she not respond to questions of what she's going to do next with (I'm going home) in referring to her house in Florida.

 

[hablo]

Maria does speak english with a russian accent (not as pronounced as kournikova though ) :lol:

 

[itzhak]

Well, it all will be clear very soon when Russia will meet Belgium in Fed cup: will Maria play or again she will miss...?
Moreover, assuming That Elena Dementieva will be there in the Russian team, if Maria will come, it will be very interesting what will be their relationship. Elena said several times that Russia will be stronger with Maria but she also said that Maria had several options to join the Russian team and she didn't come and not because of injuries... :fiery: :fiery:

 

[ezekiel]

if she doesn't live in russia and doesn't train in russia, why should she represent them if she has other business?
Is Russian federation responsible for her carreer at all :shrug:

 

[bellascarlett]

Maria does speak english with a russian accent (not as pronounced as kournikova though ) :lol:

Oh Kournikova is a different thing. But Maria? really? Her English sounds Russian accent-free to me for some reason. But she does speak Russian with an American accent. It's funny to compare her Russian to Lena or Nastya's way of speaking their language.

 

[bellascarlett]

if she doesn't live in russia and doesn't train in russia, why should she represent them if she has other business?
Is Russian federation responsible for her carreer at all :shrug:

Well there are several other players who hardly train and live in the country which they represent. It's not just Maria who left her home country as a child to pursue tennis.

 

[vettipooh]

What does she mean "every time I go back"? I thought last year was her first time back in 11 years? A big fuss was made of the whole thing and the fact that she returned with Daddy only and no Mom.:shrug:

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

if she doesn't live in russia and doesn't train in russia, why should she represent them if she has other business?
Is Russian federation responsible for her carreer at all :shrug:

how many federations develop players these days
hardly any of the US players have been produced by the USTA.

all the Russian players have come in spite of the Federation.

 

[Natasc]

Oh Kournikova is a different thing. But Maria? really? Her English sounds Russian accent-free to me for some reason. But she does speak Russian with an American accent. It's funny to compare her Russian to Lena or Nastya's way of speaking their language.

i never really pay attention to her talking in russian...
but her english has a russian accent....

 

[bellascarlett]

i never really pay attention to her talking in russian...
but her english has a russian accent....

Really? how come I never notice? must be very slight then...I'll pay closer attention next time...

 

[Natasc]

Really? how come I never notice? must be very slight then...I'll pay closer attention next time...

bella :hug:
after u watch something like thousands of times the same video u kinda note somethings :lol:
of course that can be the fact that I watch the same video loads of times!! :haha:

 

[No Name Face]

it'd certainly be easier for her to claim she was american, so if she wants to say she's russian, then she is. i don't see why people want her to deny her heritage. although her playing style is pretty american, i'd say.

 

[Natasc]

it'd certainly be easier for her to claim she was american, so if she wants to say she's russian, then she is. i don't see why people want her to deny her heritage. although her playing style is pretty american, i'd say.

of course she trained in america
as Marat and Kuznetsova way of play is spanish
that hasnt nothing to do with where they belong...

 

[thrust]

I think Maria insists she feels Russian because her father wants her to. If she were smart, or allowed by daddy to do so, she would become an American citizen and play for the US Fed Team where she would be welcomed. As she said, in Russia, she was going HOME. Her home is, and has been for most of her life, in the USA.

 

[Babolatpro880]

Hantuchova lives in Monaco. Does that mean she's not Slovakian? No.

I'm not a fan of Sharapova, but the only reason people are saying this is because she's successful.