Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova; born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player. A United States resident since 1994, Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001. She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions, for a total of 21 weeks. She is one of ten women, and the only Russian, to hold the career Grand Slam. She is also an Olympic medalist, having earned silver for Russia in women's singles...
NationalityRussian
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth19 April 1987
CityNyagan, Russia
CountryRussian Federation
In the beginning of the match I wanted to dictate from the first point, I think it was very important. In the second set obviously it was very tough, but I was able to finish it off.
I wasn't fighting out there in the second set, ... I wasn't the Maria you usually see, fighting for every single point.
In the second set I could have fought a little harder. I didn't have the fighting sprit that I usually have.
I got off to a great start and then maybe I wasn't aggressive enough and let her into the match in the second set. I don't know exactly what happened, I just lost my concentration a bit, but was able to get back on track in the final set.
I wasn't fighting out there in the second set. It was like I was giving it up. But it gives me confidence I can pull out a win like that.
It's very unfortunate. She played unbelievable tennis, the best I've seen her play. She played basically out of her mind in the second set, and it was so close in the third set.
In the second set, mentally I wasn't there and I didn't have any motivation. I wasn't fighting, I basically gave up.
It was definitely not easy. We were breaking each other's serves left and right out there. It was a miracle when someone held serve. I just tried to hang in there. It's really tough being down two set points. But I gutted it out in the first point, then had an easy second point.
I gave it all I had in the tie breaker and then in the third I ran out of gas, ... At that point it's pretty tough, physically as the points were going longer, it was to Kim's advantage. Physically, I still have to get a lot better.
I now have two titles (singles and doubles) under my belt and it feels great, ... I think with these things, it is a matter of time. If you put in the hard work - and I have worked so hard - I think this week really showed and it paid off.
I think I learn a lot from losses and they make me a lot tougher,
I think they obviously wanted a better match. After the first set, it didn't look like it was going to be much of a match.
I think today I played much better, especially in the first set, than in my first match on Wednesday,
This is my favorite grand slam and I'd never imagined I'd be in the final so early. I don't know what to say, I'm going to cry right now.