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Maria Sharapova's Roland Garros 3 rd Round Interview |
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| Tennis Princess's French Open 3rd Round Interview |
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| May 29th, 2009 |
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| Question |
From the beginning of the week, you have played six and a half hour. Is it okay for you physically, and for yourshoulder? |
| Maria Sharapova |
Yeah, I think it's a lot better than playing six and a half and going somewhere else tomorrow. I think I'm giving myself another chance to, you know, play again and play another match. That's the only thing I could ask for right now. |
| Question |
Did you have the time to give a look to the draw? I mean, because you have a good chance. You seem to have a good draw. I know you look one opponent at a time, butstill... |
| Maria Sharapova |
So why do you ask me the question? (laughter.) |
| Question |
Maybe you have changed in nine months. I haven't seen you. |
| Maria Sharapova |
Yeah, good luck.
No, you know, I've hadso many different draws in my career, tough ones and supposedly easy ones.
At the end of the day of the day you alwayslook forward to your next opponent, and you always just try to take care of business, no matter who you play. |
| Question |
Have you noticed any change of attitude from the crowd, the public? Because some times before you didn't have allthe crowd with you. Some times yes; some times no. Now everyone seems happy when you win. |
| Maria Sharapova |
Yeah, probably because you're ranked outside the top 100, so people like you. (laughter.)
When you're No. 1 in the world, for some reason they don't like you anymore. It's amazing how the society works.
No, you know, I think especially here in France, I think they always love the underdog, and they always love the one that comes back, you know, from behind, or the one that's not expected to win. I'm probably that person. |
| Question |
It seemed for a second you might have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Couldn't keep a ball in, and then second and third you recovered fairly well. |
| Maria Sharapova |
Yeah, I dug a nice pothole for myself there. That's kind of what I've been doing the last few rounds.
But, yeah, it's just som any errors and so many mistakes that usually you can make in your sleep. You know, I actually thought her own level, you know, got a lot better towards the end of the match than it was in the beginning.
I don't think I made her -- you know, Idon't think she came up with great shots in order to win that first set. I honestly believe that I was making easy errors, you know, was one step slow.
And then, yeah, got rid of those errors and started playing better. |
| Question |
With certain parts of your game, it's still like you're owning it. You know, the backhand looks great most of the time. Other parts of the game looks like you're struggling. |
| Maria Sharapova |
Are you going to digest my game? |
| Question |
Digest? No. Just talk about where you think things are. Some times the return games are great; serving games look like you're little more nervous. |
| Maria Sharapova |
Um, I don't know. That's an interesting input. But I don't know, with every match it just seems different. You know, I'm also playing on different courts and different -- you know, the weather is different every day.
It seems today the ballwas flying tremendously. You know, the day before the balls were very heavy. The courts are all different. They're playing with different speeds.
I just think I'm taking a really long time to adjust to everything. You know, I definitely have to speed that up and change it in order to go any further in this tournament. It's only going to get tougher from here. You know, I just have to cut those errors and make those shots. |
| Question |
You've not been to Angelina's yet since you've been here? |
| Maria Sharapova |
No, I haven't, but I've been to La Durée. |
| Question |
They have a fantastic new macaron for this summer. |
| Maria Sharapova |
Do they? |
| Question |
Yeah. Rum, lime, and chestnut cream? |
| Maria Sharapova |
Oh, I think I'll need that for after the tournament. That's probably why I haven't been there yet. |
| Question |
Since you're talking to us about cocktails the other day, this one is called a Mojito. |
| Maria Sharapova |
I was talking about cocktails? |
| Question |
Yeah, about how you could have been having Piña Coladas on the beach. |
| Maria Sharapova |
Oh, right. But okay. I'm not virgin, but okay. We can talk about alcohol now since I'm not under 21 anymore. |
| Question |
I wondered if you're learning anything new about yourself at this tournament? But beyond how the shoulder is holding up, how the body is holding up? Are you surprised about anything happening to you here? |
| Maria Sharapova |
Like tennis-wise? |
| Question |
Any sort of surprise at your capacity to sort of come back this way? Has anything sort of new popped into your head? |
| Maria Sharapova |
I'm full of surprises. You know, I surprise myself on a daily basis. I'll tell you, just when you think you've seen everything, I manage -- I'm the only one on my team that manages to just shock everyone. Just aska member of my team.
But, um, no, to be honest, I think coming into Warsawand coming into this tournament, it's all really -- it was all really a test, and it still is a test. I've said this, and I'm going to say it again: I think after not playing for so long, you just want to come out and -- you just want to try and work on your game and see how the things you've been practicing on, how they're doing.
For me, it's kind of the beginning of the season. We're in the middle of the tennis season. It's definitely strange, but, I mean, I'm not surprised at the way I've come back in my matches and the way I've played. I've done that before. I never give up.
You know, even if I'm playing horribly in the beginning of the match, I know that the match is not over till it's over, you know.
If it's over and it doesn't go my way, then there's another match next week. You have to have that philosophy, especially now. |
| Question |
Switching back to the relationship you might be striking up with the crowd here, don't you think there might be more than you being world No. 1 or 2? Maybe they have been seeing you digging deep just to win a match? |
| Maria Sharapova |
Yeah, I mean, but I think every one knows what to expect of me. You know, this might not be, you know, my best surface and I always, especially in the early rounds or later rounds, I always have difficult matches. I go to the three set.
You know, every single first round I think in the last three years has been three sets. I've always been down, and I've been down match points, but I always fight. And, you know, I think that's why -- I think that's why people buy a ticket. If they didn't really care that much, even if they bought the ticket they wouldn't come watch.
I mean, I certainly know if I was going to some sporting event and I didn't really care about who I was watching, I just wouldn't go. So there must be a reason why people come out and watch. |
| Question |
I think you made last 16 five years ago. |
| Maria Sharapova |
Of this tournament? |
| Question |
Yeah, French Open. Five years in a row. Does it give you some certain satisfaction, or you don't really care that you're aiming for the higher thing? |
| Maria Sharapova |
Um, I mean, I don't know if that's a solid start, or I think many people would be happy with that stat, but I think I can do a lot better. I mean, I know I can.
But, yeah, I mean especially this year. I'm just thrilled -- I'm really thrilled to be here and sit here -- you know,this is what, my third or fourth press conference, and have the opportunity to play again.
I mean, especially this year. It really gives me a tremendous, um, you know, tremendous perspective. You know, every single result, no matter how easy or tough, I learn so much from it.
Like I've said, I've had really difficult matches here, and I had really exciting ones. And actually, most of them, I remember -- I remember the certain points and the certain situations where I've been downand able to pull through them.
You know, like I said, even though it's a challenge playing here, I really enjoy it. I have a lot of respect for the tournament. It has so much history and so much tradition. I certainly want to be one of the girls holding the trophy one day. |
Resources : http://www.rolandgarros.com |
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