U.S. Open Tennis: Glamour wears off quickly for Sharapova

International Herald Tribune ^ | 9-1-04 | Clifton Brown

[Oldeconomybuyer]

NEW YORK As the reigning Wimbledon champion, Maria Sharapova is learning to deal with a higher profile and greater expectations.

Life has been a whirlwind for her since July, when at age 17, she buzzed through Wimbledon like a tornado, wiping out Serena Williams in straight sets to win the championship. Sharapova's surprising triumph, and her tall, striking presence, made her tennis's favorite summer flavor.

But between the glamour photo shoots and the talk shows, her game since Wimbledon has not been up to standard.

She was upset in the second round of the Pilot Pen tournament last week, and she was nearly upset again during the opening-round match of the U.S. Open on Tuesday night.

Outlasting a stubborn opponent, Laura Granville, Sharapova barely prevailed, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, and she will clearly have to raise her level of play to advance into the deeper reaches of this tournament. [snip]

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Tue Aug 31,10:27 PM ET
Maria Sharapova (news) from Russia reacts as she defeated Laura Granville (news) of the United States at the U.S. Open (news - web sites) tennis tournament in New York Tuesday Aug. 31, 2004. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

 

Tue Aug 31,10:58 PM ET
Maria Sharapova (news) of Russia follows through on a return to Laura Granville (news) of the U.S. during their match at the 2004 U.S. Open (news - web sites) in New York August 31, 2004. Sharapova defeated Granville 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. (John Sommers/Reuters)

 

Tue Aug 31,10:15 PM ET
Maria Sharapova (news) from Russia reacts as she defeated Laura Granville (news) of the United States at the U.S. Open (news - web sites) tennis tournament in New York Tuesday Aug. 31, 2004. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

 

Tue Aug 31,10:15 PM ET
Maria Sharapova (news) of Russia celebrates her win over Laura Granville (news) of the United States during their match at the 2004 U.S. Open (news - web sites) in New York August 31, 2004. Sharapova defeated Granville 6-3 5-7 7-5. REUTERS/John Sommers II

 

Tue Aug 31, 8:18 PM ET
Maria Sharapova (news) of Russia grimaces after hitting a return to Laura Granville (news) of the United States during their match at the 2004 U.S. Open (news - web sites) in New York August 31, 2004. REUTERS/John Sommers II

[GulliverSwift]

I see you are concerned with her technique.

I'd hate to see her disappear. Anna Pornikova isn't on very much because she never gets very far or doesn't even try to enter matches.

[Mikey_1962]

Nice headlights

[ken5050]

PIG!!!!...(g)

[MineralMan]

Nice-looking girl! Those Russians.

[TheBigB]

So when's her calendar coming out?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Just my luck, I'm going to the Open tonight. Will see Capriati instead. (Not quite the same.)

[L.N. Smithee]

I saw video of her match, and was enthralled. The hair flying as she ran, those neverending legs extending with her charges to the corners of the court, and the way she can (when she's on) stick the ball within a foot of those corners...watching Sharapova is more fun than watching beach volleyball!

[dead]

Glamour wears off quickly for Sharapova

I was hoping “Glamour” was the name of her clothing manufacturer.

[1Old Pro]

I wouldn't worry if I werre her. She can make more money doing far less work if were to follow in Anna K's footsteps.

[texasgreen]

What ever happened to all the Russian women who used to look like men? This is sure a pleasant change.
I noticed in the Olympics how much nicer the women looked. Thanks to anti-doping rules!!!

[TheBigB]

the way she can (when she's on) stick the ball within a foot of those corners

Must...NOT...make...dirty...joke...

[GSWarrior]

I have to go practice my forehand.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

...watching Sharapova is more fun than watching beach volleyball!

Only if she dives on top of her partner after a doubles match. ;-)

[reagan_fanatic]

I have to go practice my forehand.

GAAAHHH!

[johniegrad]

If you dislike his comment that much, give him the backhand.

[goldstategop]

Russian tennis hotties are remembered more for their looks than for their powress with a tennis racket.

[reagan_fanatic]

This thread is going to cause a lot of people to go blind.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Russian tennis hotties are remembered more for their looks than for their powress with a tennis racket.

Perhaps you could say that in the past, but Sharapova just won Wimbledon at the age of 17.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Tue Aug 24, 3:17 PM ET
USA's Kerri Walsh, bottom, and teammate Misty May celebrate after beating Brazil in the gold medal beach volleyball finals during the 2004 Summer Olympic Games (news - web sites) at Faliro Beach Volleyball Stadium in Athens, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004. (AP Photo/Adam Butler)

[evets]

Hubba hubba

[TheBigB]

Pardon me, I have to go spike my ball.

[CholeraJoe]

Sappho Alert!

[Tolik]

http://www.wtatour.com/rankings/singles_numeric.asp

Cur	Prv	Name/Country		Rank Pts	Qual Pts	Tours
1	-1	HENIN-HARDENNE, JUSTINE	BEL	4950	1695	13
2	-2	MAURESMO, AMELIE	FRA	4491	1444	18
3	-3	MYSKINA, ANASTASIA	RUS	4247	1470	20
4	-4	DAVENPORT, LINDSAY	USA	4009	1337	15
5	-5	CLIJSTERS, KIM	BEL	3565	1131	11
6	-6	DEMENTIEVA, ELENA	RUS	2896	1039	23
7	-7	SHARAPOVA, MARIA	RUS	2462	699	18
8	-8	CAPRIATI, JENNIFER	USA	2414	820	14
9	-9	KUZNETSOVA, SVETLANA	RUS	2090.25	771	21
10	-10	ZVONAREVA, VERA	RUS	2090	617	24
11	-11	WILLIAMS, SERENA	USA	1995	614	8
12	-12	WILLIAMS, VENUS	USA	1991	572	12
13	-13	SUGIYAMA, AI	JPN	1930	578	26
14	-15	PETROVA, NADIA	RUS	1761	567	24
15	-14	SUAREZ, PAOLA	ARG	1738	505	18
16	-16	SCHNYDER, PATTY	SUI	1641	579	24
17	-17	SCHIAVONE, FRANCESCA	ITA	1469	510	22
18	-18	MOLIK, ALICIA	AUS	1443.5	616	23
19	-27	BOVINA, ELENA	RUS	1401	537	18
20	-19	SPREM, KAROLINA	CRO	1369.75	542

 

[Argh]

I didn't know a red x was sapphic. Thanks, anyway, Doc. :^)

[agrace]

I'm jealous. She's always been my favorite. We lived in and around NYC for over a decade and never got to the Open, cough (pinging husband) cough, and now we live in OH, sigh...but he did take me to see Agassi on my birthday years ago. :)

[LiberalBassTurds]

Not that's better. You've redeemed yourself after the Helen Thomas "coronary" post. :)

Yum!

LBT

-=-=-

[sharktrager]

That and the fact she hasn't been playing tennis due to injury.

[ThinkDifferent]

That and the fact she hasn't been playing tennis due to injury.

She's playing in World Team Tennis, which I saw a while back on Fox Sports Net or one of the other oddball stations. She really is a good doubles player.

[AnnaZ]

For every dozen of your brilliant replies I must acknowlege at least one with, at minimum, a LOL!

 

;^)

 

You crack me up.

[Pagey]

Glamour wears off quickly for Sharapova

Hmmm, she's only 17 and still has many years to define the word Glamorous, she seems to be doing just fine at her age.(I mean winning Wimbledon of course) [snickers]