Loss of Sharapova blow to Gold Coast

ABC Online ^ | December 26, 2005 | abc sports

[theFIRMbss]

Loss of Sharapova blow to Gold Coast

Organisers of the Australian Women's Hardcourts have conceded Maria Sharapova's withdrawal is a blow for the Gold Coast tournament.

The 18-year-old Russian former world number one has pulled out of the tournament with a shoulder strain, an injury she has been nursing since the second half of the 2005 season, and is also in doubt for next month's Australian Open in Melbourne.

Tournament director Liz Smylie said while the loss of Sharapova was unfortunate, the return of Martina Hingis would ensure there was still plenty of interest in the event.

"I've got media calling from Europe saying they've never been accredited for an Australian event before and they'd like to be accredited to the Australian Women's Hardcourts," she said.

"Martina's story is much bigger than just Australia, and I for one am very excited about watching her play this week."

[theFIRMbss]

If these women were
gunfighters, Sharapova
would be the one with

the big yellow stripe
down her back riding the train
to get out of town . . .

Hingis has just said
her sights were on Maria.
And Maria blinked!

----------------------------------------------------------

MARTINA Hingis, the youngest ever world No. 1, has set her sights on tackling tennis' biggest young wonder, Maria Sharapova, at the Gold Coast event where she will make her comeback on New Year's Day.

"When people ask me who I really want to play, I always say Sharapova," Hingis said. "First, because she's the one I haven't played, but also because she's won Wimbledon and been the world No. 1 herself."

Hingis' confirmation that she will participate at the Royal Pines event, where Sharapova is a confirmed starter, has raised the possibility of a mouth-watering comeback match. Should the two women share a match court on the Gold Coast, it could well have a long-term effect on the season's events.

Sharapova a target as Hingis prepares

[rcocean]

Where are the pictures, darn it!

[theFIRMbss]

ping

[indcons]

See post #4

[rcocean]

G_d bless you.

[rcocean]

Why was the picture removed?

[indcons]

I don't believe this...I posted pics and AM seems to have removed them. It is not like they were vulgar or anything......who knows?

[rcocean]

[theFIRMbss]

>Where are the pictures

Hey! It's a news thread
about psychological
games the women play.

And the season starts
in just a week . . . Well, okay.
Here are just a few . . .

[rcocean]

Maybe the AM will like this picture more:

The good ol'days of women's tennis. When women were women. And you kept your mind just on the Tennis.

[rcocean]

Maybe the AM will like this picture more:

The good ol'days of women's tennis. When women were women. And you kept your mind just on the Tennis.

[theFIRMbss]

>I don't believe this...I posted pics and AM seems to have removed them

It's Christmas season.
Could be the mods are looking
extra careful now . . .

(But let's try not to
get the thread pulled. The season
does start in a week

and people should know
this year promises to be
Melrose Place on court!)

[rcocean]

Sorry for the double post.

[indcons]

Yep...gather so. Let us concentrate on the tennis.

[theFIRMbss]

>Sorry for the double post

Anna forgives you.
But don't make the mods angry.
Let's start the day calm . . .

[carlr]

Check out some of the stars on the LPGA as well.

Ladies golf has never been better.

[Fierce Allegiance]

We can't post stuff from Getty Images. I'd bet that's why they were pulled, because they didn't fail to meet any other guideline IMHO.

[Admin Moderator]

We can't post stuff from Getty Images. I'd bet that's why they were pulled . . .

You would win that bet.

[theFIRMbss]

>Let us concentrate on the tennis

I wish Maria
had spent her off-court season
concentrating on

resting up after
her dubious last season.
Instead, she's been off

celebritizing
and playing exhibitions.
And now she's injured . . .

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova poses for photographers holding Motorola's Pink M1000, which was made specifically for her, at a media conference on in Tokyo on Thursday.

The conference was held to announce Maria Sharapova's and Lindsay Davenport's participation at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament taking place early next year in Tokyo.

Sharapova is in Japan for a three-city promotional blitz that will include singles matches against Japan's top-ranked player, Ai Sugiyama, Asahi Shimbun wrote Monday.

The Maria Sharapova Japan Tour 2005 is the first leg of a planned world tour scheduled to stop in Russia, Hong Kong and Singapore in the following months.

The 18-year-old Russian will be showcasing her own brand of perfume and her own line of watches in addition to taking part in fashion shows, tennis clinics for children. An event organised for Japanese fans on Wednesday, attracted an audience of about 7,200.

In a fashion show held at Osaka-jo Hall as part of her Japan Tour, 18-year-old Sharapova demonstrated her costumes and a bag she designed. She also showed a powerful serve in an exhibition "match" against Hanshin Tigers catcher Akihiro Yano.

Sharapova topped the list of Russia's wealthiest athletes published by the Finance magazine earlier this month. Sharapova's income in 2005 was estimated at $14.5 million.

The Maria Sharapova phone