|
Post by Admin on Nov 30, 2014 21:03:31 GMT
Sania Mirza and Maria Sharapova have been champions in their respective doubles and singles game but it was Sania Mirza’s brilliant effort in the mixed doubles match in IPTL that saw her give her side Indian Aces an invincible win. Touted to be the revolution in the world of tennis saw few unusual wins and losses with singles champions pair of Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray being brutally thrashed by seasoned doubles campaigner Sania Mirza and her fellow countryman Rohan Bopanna, with whom she has partnered on several occasions. Manila Mavericks playing on the home turf in Mall of Asia Arena, are yet to record a win in the matches played so far in the tournament. After being downed by UAE Royals in the opening contest on Friday, they expected of a better show but soon found themselves in trouble with former champion Carlos Moya retiring hurt from the first set after pulling a groin injury. Daniel Nestor filled in for the hurt Moya but could hardly manage to hang in against a motivated French Fabrice Santoro who is playing the legend’s match in place of 14-time grand slam winner Pete Sampras. Despite a dismal start, Mavericks pulled a great doubles set with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Treat Huey ripping Gael Monfils and Rohan Bopanna to secure 6-0 win. Mavericks looked comfortable with two of the best players Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray fielding in the singles matches. But both the players tanked opposite Ana Ivanovic and Gael Monfils to succumb to a disappointing second match loss in two consecutive days. Results: Manila Mavericks (MM) vs Micromax Indian Aces (MIA) Set 1, Past Champions Singles Match: Fabrice Santoro (MIA) defeated Daniel Nestor (MM) after Carlos Moya ret. 6-1 Set 2, Doubles Match: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga/Treat Huey (MM) defeated Rohan Bopanna/Gael Monfils (MIA) 6-0 Set 3, Men’s Singles Match: Gael Monfils (MIA) defeated Andy Murray (MM) 6-4 Set 4, Mixed Doubles Match: Sania Mirza/Rohan Bopanna (MIA) defeated Maria Sharapova/Andy Murray (MM) 6-1 Set 5, Women’s Singles Match: Ana Ivanovic (MIA) defeated Maria Sharapova (MM) 6-3
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 1, 2014 20:52:36 GMT
Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova suffered second successive defeat in the International Premier Tennis League. The pair were beaten 6-1 by doubles specialists Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza in the second round on Saturday, after British No 1 Murray had earlier lost 6-4 to Gael Monfils in singles. Ana Ivanovic then beat Sharapova 6-3 as Indian Aces prevailed 24-15 overall in the Philippines. The four-team event began in Manila on Friday and will move on to Singapore, Delhi and Dubai, with the final on December 13. Murray is only scheduled to play over the three days of the Manila leg before the Briton heads to the United States for his annual off-season training block. Sharapova, the reigning French Open champion, only committed to play the first two days of the inaugural exhibition event. Murray will complete his IPTL stint on Sunday when Manila take on Singapore Slammers, with Tomas Berdych due to face the Scot in singles.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2014 21:05:19 GMT
Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova enjoyed the beaches of Palawan weeks before her scheduled games at the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL). The 27-year-old stunner posted pictures of her Palawan visit on her Instagram account. Sharapova told ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo that she learned about the place through the Internet and her interactions with friends online. "It's a trip I wanted to take for many years. So I kind of went around these islands with my friends. It was really fun," she said. She added that the Filipinos’ hospitality made the trip even more fulfilling. “The people were so generous, it made the trip so great."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 10, 2014 20:47:35 GMT
It looks as though Maria Sharapova could have scored love. The 27-year-old Russian tennis player and her hunky boyfriend of two years - fellow professional tennis athlete Grigor Dimitrov, 23, were spotted on a romantic stroll around Beverly Hills on Sunday. As the duo walked around the luxury shopping street of Rodeo Drive, they laughed and smiled as they firmly clasped hands. For their weekend errands the 6ft2in blonde beauty looked stylish in a navy blue knee-length dress with elbow-length sleeves. She accessorised with a chunky metal statement necklace, various rings, bronze-coloured flats and aviator shades. Maria also carried along a black leather handbag and wore her long locks tied back into a messy ponytail. Bulgarian-born Grigor coordinated with his lady love's style in blue trousers, a blue and white patterned button-up shirt, black and white trainers, a nice watch, dark sunglasses and a zip-up jacket. Maria recently opened up about her relationship with the world's number 11 ranked tennis pro. 'I have a tremendous amount of respect for [Grigor] as a person and it’s nice to share each other’s company every day and forget about what we do, have other interests', she told Fox Sports. She elaborated: 'If you are happy and that person brings you happiness, you have to cherish it as much as you can.'
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 19, 2014 21:18:35 GMT
Could Maria Sharapova chase down the World No. 1 spot with a strong start in Australia? We take a look at her 2014 and look ahead to the start of the new season for the World No. 2. Considering that Sharapova came into 2014 not having played on the tour since 2013 due to a recurring shoulder injury, her progress throughout the year has been impressive, culminating in head-achingly complex year-ending No. 1 scenarios at the WTA Finals. Starting the year ranked No. 4, it began well with a run to the semi-finals in Brisbane, falling to the eventual champion Serena Williams, but she came up against a very determined Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round of the Australian Open, who was on her way to her maiden Grand Slam final. There may have been a few other questionable losses but Sharapova became the queen of three-set comebacks as the clay court season rolled around and she fought off first Ana Ivanovic in Stuttgart, then Simona Halep in Madrid and despite the glitch of losing to Ivanovic in room in the third round, she was in impressive form at the French Open as she won it for the second time. It was perhaps a bit of an indifferent Wimbledon though, for the player who made her breakthrough on the grass of SW19 a decade ago, and the US hard court swing was not maybe as strong as she would have liked, but she had the added advantage of no points to defend from last year, pulling her back up the rankings again, especially with the retirement of Li Na. Sharapova capitalised on Serena Williams’ bad run of form in Asia to take the Beijing title, but just as it looked as though the No. 1 spot could be in her grasp (albeit by all manner of complex equations), two consecutive losses in the round robin stages put paid to that, but she had closed the gap on Williams to just 1435 points. With Williams deciding not to return to Brisbane to try for a third straight title, and gaining no points at the Hopman Cup, Sharapova will head the field in the Australian season opener, having also enjoyed a brief stint as part of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL). With Williams, there is always a sense that she is fighting herself as much as the person the other side of the net, and a quick start in Australia is vital if Sharapova wants to put pressure on the American for that coveted World No. 1 spot. On her form and just an appreciation of having this chance to come-back and play at the highest level again, who would count her out as one of the favourites to lift another Australian Open title in a few weeks’ time?
|
|