Maria's Best Friend - Maria Sharapova...

wprusak

As Maria Kirilenko's best friend on the tour is Maria Sharapova and there will naturally be a bunch of us who are fans of both ladies, it seems fair to add a topic under "General" for Maria's Best Friend. That way we will have one place to put posts for Maria Sharapova, as they somehow relate to Maria Kirilenko. As big Maria certainly has many, many posting outlets on the internet and this site was developed for Kirilenko and Krajicek, if Dan and Sarah disagree with this topic, it will be easily understood if you decide to delete it.

wprusak · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:06 pm Post subject: Big Maria Draw at KC

While Maria Kirilenko's draw at the Kremlin Cup seems tough, Maria Sharapova's is challenging as well. After a well deserved first round bye (she is #1 in the World after all), probably Groenfeld in the second round. Groenfeld is familiar to little Masha fans from the China Open, and she also made the finals the week after. Pretty challenging second rounder. Then if form holds Molik and Pierce in the next two rounds. The good news is if the two Maria's meet in Moscow, it will be in the final. Now that would be sweet.

inkymisafan · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:31 am Post subject:

I don't have a problem with the topic (I chose the last one btw :P ), I don't *think* Dan should have a problem with it either! Wink

But seriously, I much prefer Kirilenko to Sharapova. "big Masha's" OK, but it depends who she's playing if I'll cheer for her or not. :wink: But...Misa over everyone of course! hehe
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"Sta op als je voor Misa bent"!

Dan · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:43 am Post subject:

No probs here Wink

You can basically post what you like mate Cool

wprusak

Kind of long for a post, but a nice interview. Note what she says about Maria Kirilenko about halfway down.

Maria Sharapova unwilling to trade her Russian citizenship for anything
10/11/2005 13:39
World's tennis player No. 1 answered questions at a press conference before the opening of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow

The Kremlin Cup international tennis tournament opened in Moscow yesterday. Maria Sharapova's arrival in Moscow has already become the central event of the entire tournament. Maria gave a press conference on the threshold of the event: the President of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpishchev, awarded world's tennis player No.1 with a badge of an honored master of sports and presented the Russian Cup prize to mark Sharapova's achievements of the best Russian tennis player during the recent 200 years.

Do you see yourself as a Russian or an American citizen? Is it in your plans to change citizenship?

I consider myself a Russian, especially when I live abroad. I do not even think about changing my citizenship.

You will have to play some other Russian tennis players during the tournament. Do you have any preferences on whom would you like to play?

It makes no difference to me, whom to play. I can only say that it is hard to play them.

How do you like the court surface?

The surface is slow, although I have played on such a surface before this year. I will get used to it.

Which victory of yours do you see as the most important accomplishment that you made?

It is Wimbledon, of course. I love fast court.

Do you have any friends in the world of tennis?

Yes, it is Maria Kirilenko, first and foremost.

Your father always accompanies you when you travel for tournaments. Does your mother participate in your tennis career?

No, she does not. She deals with my studies and takes me to museums. Tennis is my father's prerogative only.

Did you follow the Russian tennis team in the Fed Cup?

Yes, the girls did very well. It is hard to win for the second time. Maybe, I will help them next year.

What other sports do you prefer?

Football and hockey. I am a fan of Madrid's Real. I have recently had a chance to meet Zidane.

Do you have any acquaintances with Russian hockey-players?

Yes, with Nikolay Khabibulin.

And what about Hollywood?

I am friends with Uma Thurman. She is a great woman.

What are you going to do after tennis? You have recently launched the production of your perfume.

I like fashion. I will probably go studying in this field. As for perfumes, I personally participated in the production process and blended scents. The perfume has just been released in the USA, but it will be out in Russia soon too.

Have you managed to see anything in Moscow yet or visit any events probably?

I do not attend any events. My goal is to win the Kremlin Cup. I have done a little shopping and bought some shoes. Moscow has very good stores; this is one of the most beautiful cities in the world really.

Are you going to buy an apartment in Moscow?

Yes, I am, but I am not telling you where. I hope that I will be visiting Moscow more often than I do now.

Do you drive?

Yes, I own two cars, a BMW and a Rover SUV. I am a good driver; at least I have not been in a car accident yet.

Do you have a special talisman?

Not really, no, just my cell phone, probably, which I always carry with me.

Have you spoken to Boris Yeltsin?

Yes, but not a lot. His secretary approached me and said that Mr. Yeltsin would like to talk to me. We had a sweet short conversation.

What about Vladimir Putin? Did you congratulate the president on his birthday?

I would love to. I was glad when he called to congratulate me on my victory in Wimbledon and then on my birthday. I did not congratulate Mr. Putin on his birthday, but I will a little bit later.

Do you follow Russia's life while living in the USA? Do you like any new books or movies?

My father does. He likes Brat, the movie (translates into English as "Brother") and its sequel, Brat-2. I listen to the Russian band called Umathurman. As for books, Maria Kirilenko has recently given me one, but I have not read it yet.

What is the most important thing for you in life?

Health. Everything else will come along.

Vladimir Galkin
Vadim Trukhachev

wprusak

Turns out big Maria is playing her second round match Wednesday, 4th match on Center Court.

4. Sharapova vs. Groenefeld (NB 16.30hrs)

And that is like...now.

wprusak

Sharapova escapes defeat as Groenefeld suffers injury

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Top seed Maria Sharapova was lucky to reach the Kremlin Cup quarter-finals after her second-round opponent Anna-Lena Groenefeld retired with an ankle injury while leading 6-1 4-2. The unseeded German was 4-1 ahead in the second set when she slipped and twisted her left ankle.

Until her injury, Groenefeld had dominated the world number one, outplaying Sharapova from the start.

The Florida-based Russian, who was making her Kremlin Cup debut, was broken three times in the opening set, losing her serve to love in the third and seventh games.

Sharapova again surrendered her serve in the fourth game of the second set when she hit a lame forehand into the net on break point to fall 3-1 behind.

Groenefeld won the next game and held two break points in the sixth before stumbling on the baseline while trying to reach Sharapova's shot.

inkymisafan · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:02 am Post subject:

I feel so sorry for Anna-Lena. I really hope her ankle will be alright. Maria is VERY lucky to be in the QFs!
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"Sta op als je voor Misa bent"!

Dan · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:09 am Post subject:

I also feel bad for ALG...its sad to lose that way after playing so well. Maria knows she was lucky and wasnt happy either. What happened was not Maria's fault as some make it out to be. She was just going about her own game. Its understandable why she started so poorly, with the injury and time off as well as a big change in court surface, I hope she picks up her form for the QF. Maria rarely plays 2 bad matches in a row.

wprusak · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/pete_mcentegart/10/18/ten.spot/index.html

See item number 3, Dan you will enjoy. And the photo would be nicer if she wasn't wearing those sunglasses.

Dan · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 12:34 am Post subject:

haha

wprusak · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:11 am Post subject:

Looks like big Maria will move to second or third in next week's rankings. I hope a big win in LA will move her back to #1 for the year end. But it does seem that she will have to win just to defend points from last year. Sarah, how does it look to you? From Eurosport:

"If third-placed Davenport fails to beat Hantuchova, second-placed Belgian Kim Clijsters will return to top spot in next week's rankings.

Current number one Maria Sharapova is not defending the ranking points she received by reaching the Zurich final last year."

inkymisafan · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:20 am Post subject:

inkymisafan · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:29 am Post subject:

btw, it's interesting to see how little there is between the top 3 players at the moment...

Kim has 4467
Maria has 4419
Lindsay has 4396

I really don't see Lindsay losing to Daniela though, so I'm pretty sure she will be #1 next week, and kim should probably take it over the week after with Hasselt! (Which would mean big Masha back to #3). But Momo is #4 at the moment and has 3936 points. She is also playing Zurich, but I think she'd have to win the whole tourney to overtake Maria. After that, Pierce at #5 is like 700 (roughly) points behind so I think Maria should at least stay in the top 4 till the end of the year (which is better for her AO seeding).
_________________
"Sta op als je voor Misa bent"!

wprusak · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:56 pm Post subject:

Hmmmm, so even if big Maria defends and wins the tournament, and if Kim does not win any matches, the status quo holds? From eurosport -

"Clijsters looks to be in pole position for top spot after the draw paired Davenport and Sharapova in the same round robin group for the championships starting on 8 November. The Belgian U.S. Open champion (4665 points) lies just 155 points behind Davenport (4820 points) in the world rankings, but does not have any points to defend, after sitting out last year with a wrist injury.

American Davenport is defending 214 points, while last year's winner Sharapova (4281 points) is protecting 684 points. But Sharapova, who pulled out of last week's Philadelphia Championships, is currently nursing a right pectoral injury and is receiving treatment twice a day.

DRAW CEREMONY BREAKDOWN

Davenport and Sharapova will play in the Green Group alongside Switzerland's Patty Schnyder and Nadia Petrova of Russia. Clijsters, with nine singles titles in 2005, has been drawn in the Black Group with Frenchwomen Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce as well as Elena Dementieva of Russia."