Tag Maria Sharapova2018 Australian Open

NAN-S-2
Sharapova
Abuja, Jan. 18, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Maria Sharapova fended off Anastasija Sevastova 6-1 7-6(4) to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday.

For Sharapova, it was a case of revenge being served hot as she defeated her U.S. Open conqueror Sevastova under a blazing sun at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The crafty Latvian had knocked Sharapova out of the fourth round at Flushing Meadows last year during the Russian’s return to Grand Slam action after a 15-month doping ban.

So, prior to their Melbourne Park rematch, former champion Sharapova said she was primed and ready for another drawn-out dog-fight against the 14th seed.

Centre court was already a sizzling frying pan by the time the players started hitting up in the first morning match at Rod Laver Arena.

So the 35 degree Celsius (95F) heat may have quickly forced a rethink as Sharapova burst out of the blocks in a hail of winners to roar through the first set in 23 minutes.

Although the next set was a “little dicey”, as she wobbled when serving for the match at 5-4, Sharapova was glad to beat a hasty retreat from the broiling conditions.

“It’s a warm day. I did my job in two sets against someone that’s been troubling in the past for me,” she told reporters.

“So, third round of the Australian Open, I don’t know, I think I deserve to smile out there after that victory.”

Sharapova has often been likened to an “ice queen” by her tour rivals.

Former Australian professional Jelena Dokic penned a column in a local tabloid on Thursday that said the Russian had little interest in making friends with on-court foes.

Sharapova’s delivery of the women’s trophy at the draw ceremony in the lead-up to the tournament caused a minor controversy.

Many pundits criticised organisers for teeing it up in spite of her doping suspension.

The former world number one said she had learned to be comfortable with all the attention.

“I think I‘m just very well aware that I think in this world everyone has an opinion and that no matter what you do, or no matter how you play tennis, or what you say, or how you go about your life, not everyone will like the way you do it,” she said.

“I think I have learned that from a very young age, and I have come to understand it and appreciate it. I take it as it is.”

Her last trip to Melbourne Park two years ago was the catalyst for her doping ban, as she tested positive for meldonium following her quarter-final defeat to Serena Williams.

But on her return to Rod Laver Arena, there was nothing frosty about the centre court crowd.

She waved to the terraces following her one hour and 20-minute win over Sevastova.

“I love Australia. I love the summertime. I was watching this tournament with a box of Kleenex next to me sick (last year),” said Sharapova, who next faces 2016 champion Angelique Kerber or Donna Vekic.

“So, you know, I feel like I transported myself into the TV this year and I‘m finding myself on Rod Laver Arena competing. A lot of things to smile about.” (Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-S-16
Tennis
By Dorcas Jonah
Melbourne, Jan. 16, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Maria Sharapova on Tuesday resumed her career at the Australian Open in bright sunshine with a performance that went some way to banishing those demons.

The 30-year-old former champion returned a positive doping test after a quarter-final defeat by Serena Williams in 2016, resulting in a 15-month ban from the sport.

Sharapova was in dominant mood as she beat Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-1 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena.

There would be tougher tests to come for the five-times Grand Slam champion.

But the relish with which she pummelled 22 winners suggests that in her second Grand Slam event since returning from exile, she could do damage, despite not being seeded.

Sharapova, who fell foul of the anti-doping regulations after failing to realise that heart drug meldonium had been added to the WADA prohibited list, attracted more unwanted headlines last week.

That was when she was selected for the draw ceremony.

That decision by tournament director Craig Tiley raised a few disapproving eyebrows.

But there was plenty of support for the 2008 champion on Tuesday with regular shouts of “C‘mon Masha, we’ve missed you”.

After ending fellow 30-year-old Maria’s dogged second-set resistance with an ace, Sharapova admitted she had “shivers” walking on to court.

Later, when addressing the media, it was very much business as usual with Sharapova reluctant to talk about the past.

Asked if her return to Melbourne had produced flashbacks to that fateful day two years ago, she said: “No. It’s not the way I look at things moving forward.”

Sharapova struck the ball with venom in the first set in which the only blemish was dropping serve to give Maria a game.

The second set threatened to get a little tricky as Sharapova was broken to love to trail 1-3.

But a forehand winner gave her break point in the next game and she converted it when Maria went wide.

Sharapova broke again at 3-3 as her opponent, actually ranked a place higher at 47, double-faulted and Sharapova moved into a 5-3 lead as Maria began to feel the strain.

The German managed to prolong the contest for another game but Sharapova finished off the match in style.

She belted a forehand winner at 30-30 and then aimed a searing first serve bang on the line.(Reuters/NAN)

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)