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Post by Admin on Dec 30, 2017 19:28:07 GMT
The 2018 season is set to begin in the coming week, and one of the three tournaments in the opening week of the WTA Tour is the Shenzhen Open, where Katerina Siniakova beat Alison Riske to take the title in 2016. Both Siniakova, seeded sixth, and Riske return this time around, though arguably the most notable name set to be in action is that of world number one Simona Halep, the 2015 champion who will be looking to improve on an early loss to Siniakova last year. Furthermore, French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and former world number one Maria Sharapova will also be looking to get their seasons off to a great start, with the likes of Shuai Zhang also set to be in action.
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Post by Admin on Jan 5, 2018 19:28:50 GMT
Former world number one Maria Sharapova cruised past Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas into the semi-finals of the Shenzhen Open in China on Thursday. Sharapova, who won 6-3 6-3, struck 24 winners and five aces to stay on course for a title clash with top-ranked Simona Halep after the Romanian dismissed Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-2. 'I'm glad that I ended up being the winner of the match,' Sharapova said in a courtside interview.
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Post by Admin on Jan 15, 2018 19:18:14 GMT
CHANNEL 7 has joined the Australian Open in becoming an international laughing stock over the decision to award returning star Maria Sharapova the honour of conducting the women’s draw for the 2018 Australian Open. Open tournament director Craig Tiley has had to defend the decision to welcome the 30-year-old Russian back with overt flattery — less than two years since she tested positive to a banned substance at Melbourne Park in 2016. The Australian Open has a long tradition of giving former champions the honour of conducting the Open draw. Men’s 2017 champion Roger Federer was also at Margaret Court Arena to conduct the men’s draw. Tiley said Sharapova was the only former champion available to conduct the women’s draw. Olympic champion Adeline Sotnikova responded sharply to those who criticize her on social networks. She advised ill-wishers to do their own business. - My advice to all "well-wishers"! Do not lead me to such a state as here! Dangerous, oh, how dangerous! - Sotnikova wrote in her Instagram. - Keep your tongues behind your teeth and look into your plate! And who, where, when and how much ... well, it's none of your business!
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Post by Admin on Jan 16, 2018 19:18:04 GMT
Sharapova was back at Melbourne Park for the first time since her 2016 quarter-final loss, an absence caused by a 15-month suspension for a positive drug test at that same tournament. For her part, Sharapova has maintained throughout that she was unaware the over-the-counter supplement she had been taking for more than a decade had been added to WADA's prohibited list on New Year's Day 2016. Sharapova's on court interview after winning her first round match at the 2018 Australian Open. The saga did nothing to diminish the support for Sharapova among the fans at Margaret Court Arena on day two. There was a heartfelt cheer – and not a hint of rancour – when she stepped onto the court, and an even louder one when her name was proclaimed by the courtside announcer. After her 6-1, 6-4 victory, Sharapova spoke of how it was "really meaningful for me to be back out here today". "I've got shivers," she said. "It means a lot to me. I cherish these moments, I love it."
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Post by Admin on Jan 18, 2018 19:25:53 GMT
Maria Sharapova's press conference following her second round straight set victory over Anastasija Sevastova at the Australian Open 2018
Day by day, the rankings on the women’s tour are being shredded to the point of irrelevance – and when Johanna Konta joined Sloane Stephens, Venus Williams, Petra Kvitova and Garbiñe Muguruza among a slew of seeded players to lose here over the first four days, one “outsider” stood taller than them all: Maria Sharapova.
The Russian, champion here a decade ago and back in Melbourne two years after failing a drugs test but still feted to the point of idolatry, is playing way above her WTA status of 48. So it was no great shock that she took down the 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova in a grinding two-set victory on Thursday.
Match highlights from Maria Sharapova's 2R win over 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova.
n Saturday the 30-year-old blonde black sheep of tennis plays the 2016 champion, Angelique Kerber, who demolished Donna Vekic in two sets. If Sharapova were to defeat Kerber, her path to the final week would grow tougher but not beyond her skills and determination.
“I did my job against someone who’s troubled me in the past,” she said. “I think I deserve to smile out there after that victory.” Others did not have that luxury.
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