[新聞] A star true to roots
http://dailypilot.com/articles/2009/07/23/sports/dpt-spsharpaova072309.txt
Sharapova finds strength with World Team Tennis, amid her
comeback from shoulder surgery in October.
By Steve Virgen
Updated: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 11:53 PM PDT
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NEWPORT BEACH — Maria Sharapova appeared as if she was
trying to come off as modest, humble, homely even, during a
press conference before she took to the court with the
Newport Beach Breakers Wednesday night.
It didn’t work.
The cameras flashed, the reporters fired questions and
Sharapova tried to handle it with grace.
Her rise to fame started the same, minus the cameras and
media surrounding her, of course. But, the down-to-earth
part, yes. Part of Sharapova’s beginning started with
World Team Tennis, back when she was 15 in 2000 when she
played for the Delaware Smash.
(這裡的數字又有錯了。)
Back then she was trying to be much more than a pretty
face, much more than a hot Russian import. She was seeking
tennis stardom, championships. Those came.
Wimbledon in 2004. U.S. Open in 2006. Australian Open in
2008. Nineteen WTA singles titles.
Now, her name is big, even she’ll admit. Confuse her with
Anna Kournikova? Perish the thought.
“Actually over the years, you know, I think my dog is
actually more popular now,” said Sharapova, who wore an
old-looking orange Nike shirt over black tights. “I was
walking my dog the other day. ‘Is that that famous dog?’ I
’m like, ‘Are you looking at the dog?’ It’s funny, I
feel like people recognize my own brand and the name Maria
Sharapova. Before it was like, ‘Is that her?’ Maybe. Now
it’s like, ‘That is Maria Sharapova.’
“It’s still strange no matter how many times people ask
me for an autograph or ask me if it is me, it still comes
as a surprise. It’s always very flattering.”
But now the brand is in need of a redefinition. Seems
far-fetched considering Sharapova is 22. But since
undergoing surgery on her right rotator cuff in October,
the former No. 1 player in the world has been eliminated by
an opponent outside the top 10 in four tournaments. Last
month, Gisela Dulko knocked out Sharapova in the second
round at Wimbledon.
The rehab from the surgery has been rough, but before she
led the Breakers to a 24-15 victory over Kansas City, she
stated that she’s 100 percent. The shoulder is fine.
But that rehab was tough.
“By no means was it easy,” she said. “Definitely I had
ups and downs. I had days where I had to push myself more
than I’ve ever had to mentally than physically."
“It all pays off. Obviously just getting to be able to
play tennis again is an achievement in itself. Now it’s
about preparing myself, forgetting about what I went
through, just preparing my game, getting back into the form
where I was, and even better.”
Billie Jean King, the tennis legend and founder of WTT,
believes Sharapova is capable of a comeback. King has been
a fan ever since the girl Sharapova joined the WTT and she
enjoys the tennis sensation coming back, as she’s played
in the league for six seasons, five with the Breakers. King
is a part owner of the Breakers.
“I don’t care if she lost in the second round, she’s
back,” King said last month after Sharapova’s
disappointing finish at the All England Club. “She’s more
powerful than she was before. She has the right attitude.
She’s smart and she’s powerful. You have to have
consistency too. The thing I like her about the most is
that she’s such a hard worker.”
Sharapova, ranked No. 61, will play in two tournaments,
trying to gain some type of rhythm, before entering the
U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 31. She’ll play the Bank of
the West Tournament that starts in Stanford on Monday. Then
it’s off to the Los Angeles Women’s Championships in
Carson the following week.
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