Kim Clijsters says Maria Sharapova has been punished enough

Despite rivals' chorus of disapproval, former star says Sharapova has served her time.

If the dipping temperatures in Stuttgart, looking to turn icy in the coming days, are getting to Maria Sharapova a little more than others, she can hardly be blamed.

After all, more of her peers on the professional women's tennis tour have publicly disagreed with the concept of her getting a wild card into tournaments than those who spoke out in her defence.

But the Russian, who returns to competition today at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix following a 15-month doping ban, can at least count on some warmth from Kim Clijsters, a former rival who has exchanged several steely stares with her across the net before.

As far as the Belgian is concerned, Sharapova - who tested positive for meldonium at last year's Australian Open - has paid her dues.

Said the former world No. 1, who is in Germany as a legend ambassador for the Oct 22-29 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore: "(Sharapova) has done her time, and she's done her punishment.



"I was disappointed and surprised when the news came out, but now she's done her punishment and she's starting her career with zero ranking. She has to build her way up anyway."

Clijsters struck a different tune from many active players on tour.

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska and Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki have been among the most vocal, objecting to tournament organisers handing Sharapova a way into tournaments. The Russian no longer has a ranking and is dependent on wild cards to compete at WTA events.

The 30-year-old tennis star with five Grand Slam titles will also be playing in Madrid and Rome. She opens her campaign against Italian Roberta Vinci, an opponent she has not lost to in two meetings so far. It will be the first time the Russian is allowed on-site at the Porsche Arena.

Clijsters' more forgiving stance, perhaps, stems from a unique perspective as former player and official. The 33-year-old was tournament director of a WTA tournament in Antwerp in 2015.

Said Clijsters: "Having been both sides, as a tournament director and as a player, it's up to the tournament whether they want to give a wild card or not.

"She still has all the Grand Slams that she's won, she's still the name. I assume for sponsors, spectators, especially in this situation, everyone wants to see how well she will do.

"It's a tough situation for Maria to be in. All eyes will be on her. I'm sure it was really tough for her to be on the sidelines for that long. She's had the career that she's had - and I don't think she needs to be punished more because of 'the reason'," added the four-time Grand Slam champion.

"In a week's time, this news will be over and she will be back on tour, maybe playing some of her best tennis. I'm excited to watch her play... I'm interested to see, just like everyone else is, to see how she will do."

straitstimes.com

Interesting, but I'm also not surprised that Kim is supportive, she's always been one of the nicest, and most level headed players on the WTA Tour. 

I also find it interesting that Maris is getting so much flack (even though I do tend to agree with it to an extant).  

But I don't recall Martina Hingis having the same problem. Granted hers was a completely different case in that it was not a performance enhancing drug, and she was away a lot longer (2 full years), but still. I don't recall her getting a lot of complaints from players on receiving wild cards. 

It could also be that Martina is mostly a doubles specialists these days, but she did have as high a profile and still does, if not higher as Sharapova and clearly people have forgiven her. 

It's just something that has been on mind with Sharapova's return to the tour this week. 

I also find it unfair, that when male tennis athletes get caught for doping it's never as hot a topic, and certainly never seems as highly covered by the main stream media.  

Usually it's jut a blurb or a highlight on the news.  It's so sad how there's still such a sexist double standard when it comes to elite female athletes.

Maria Sharapova Rips ITF, ITF Strikes Back

I'm honestly conflicted on the whole Sharapova thing. Both parties have their faults really.

Maria Sharapova receives 2 year ban from International Tennis Federation

Maria Sharapova was suspended two years by the International Tennis Federation on Wednesday for doping, a ban she called “unfairly harsh” and which she plans to appeal.

The 28-year-old Sharapova announced in March she tested positive for meldonium, which she said she has been taking for 10 years to treat numerous health issues. Meldonium became a banned substance this year under the WADA code, and Sharapova claims she didn’t notice its addition to the banned list.

Sharapova immediately went on the offensive Wednesday, releasing a statement on Facebook that questioned the validity of the ITF’s suspension. She says the ITF wanted to ban her for four years, but it was reduced to two years by a three-person Tennis Anti-Doping Program tribunal because the ITF had not found evidence that Sharapova’s doping was intentional.

“While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension,” Sharapova said. “The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years. I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

However, the tribunal’s report said various elements of Sharapova’s case “inevitably lead to the conclusion” that she took the substance “for the purpose of enhancing her performance,” and revealed that her meldonium usage was concealed from everyone in her entourage except her father and agent. The tribunal called Sharapova “the sole author of her own misfortune.”

Sharapova has been blasted by numerous tour pros for giving the sport a black eye, while others have used the opportunity to call her out as one of the coldest players on the WTA Tour.


“I have missed playing tennis and I have missed my amazing fans, who are the best and most loyal fans in the world. I have read your letters,” wrote Sharapova, who ended the letter: “Love, Maria.”

If her suspension withstands an appeal and runs through Jan. 25, 2018, the 29-year-old Russian will wind up missing this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics and a total of eight Grand Slam tournaments during what might have been prime competitive years. It certainly throws into doubt the on-court future of the former world No. 1.

“I have read your social media posts and your love and support has gotten me through these tough days,” Sharapova wrote. “I intend to stand for what I believe is right and that’s why I will fight to be back on the tennis court as soon as possible.”

Sharapova said she tested positive at the Australian Open, where she lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals on Jan. 26.

nypost.com

She received the same sentence as Martina Hingis (albeit for a completely different reason). 

And I hate to say it but I agree with ITF it was her own fault. 

She could have avoided this if she had just paid attention and not tried to hide it. 

2 years is a long time, and if she's not successful in reducing the sentence it'll be interesting to see if she can come back. 

If anyone can after something like this it would be Sharapova. Whether it's actually a successful comeback will be the biggest question.

It could have been worse she could have received 4 years given it is a performance enhancing drug. 

Unlike Martina Hingis who I still think was targeted (thus the cocaine accusation).

Roger Federer & Maria Sharapova at A Summer Night in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia - Two of the biggest names in the history of tennis, Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer, were the guests of honor at A Summer Night, a gala that was held at Brisbane City Hall over the weekend, just ahead of the first Premier-level tournament of the year, the Brisbane International.

Federer was the next to take the microphone and discussed winning, losing, and being 'totally Zen':

First up, Sharapova talked about returning to Brisbane - she's the defending champion, after all.

And then it was time to talk about Christmas - what time did Sharapova wake up that morning?!

The two were then asked about their origins, with Federer leaving home as a teenager and Sharapova moving from Russia to the United States at age 7. Here's how they think back to their beginnings:

wtatennis.com

Top Tennis player talk show moments

WTA celebrates 40 years of independence

All the famous ladies past & present :)

PARIS — It was a good payday for Victoria Azarenka. She earned $496,725 (in Euros) as a losing semifinalist in the 2013 French Open women’s championships. Her paycheck symbolized the success of the women’s movement in tennis, an achievement that was celebrated immediately after her match on Thursday against Maria Sharapova.

More than a dozen women players from several decades walked onto Court Philippe Chatrier through a corridor of flowers held by ball boys and ball girls. As the crowd cheered and waved, they were handed thick bouquets of flowers and saluted by the French Tennis Federation. It was a celebration of 40 years of women’s independence in tennis.

Images flashed on two giant video screens of Billie Jean King and the dozen or more women, most of them Americans, who rebelled against tournament organizers in 1973 to form their own international tour, initially financed by a tobacco company. In that era, women still received much less prize money than men. Parity began to emerge only in recent years. Still, paychecks grew enormously for the top players.

In a broadcast booth above the stadium, Amelie Mauresmo of France smiled and waved back at the crowd as her image appeared on screen. Mauresmo won the Wimbledon and Australian Open titles and earned nearly $15 million in a 15-year playing career.

Downstairs, Azarenka said, “It’s an incredible thing, what happened 40 years ago to start something from scratch and look where we are here today, you know, with one of the biggest women’s sport in the world.”

Sharapova, who was guaranteed $993,450 for reaching the final, said, “I’m really proud to be part of it.”

Largely unrecognized by spectators, Selima Sfar, 36, a retired Tunisian player who lives in Paris, carried her bouquet off the court and told a reporter who apologized for asking her name, “No, you should not recognize me; I’m not that big.” Sfar earned more than $800,000 in prize money in 12 years, reaching 75th in the world in 2001, according to WTA records.

“In the other Arab countries, I hope this is going to be something new, something more for them to inspire them to play tennis and play at a good level,” she said.

As the second women’s semifinal got underway between Serena Williams and Sara Errani of Italy, Sfar was interviewed by French television. Afterward, she turned to a reporter and said: “I think it’s a huge thing what Billie Jean King has been doing for the women’s tennis, for WTA, equal prize money, Grand Slams, the big tournaments. It’s something nobody before thought was possible or feasible.”

Soon, after her semifinal victory, Williams praised the WTA and the sport. “I think tennis empowers women,” she said. “I think that’s the perfect way to say it. I think it’s a great sport. Honestly, it’s the best sport for a female to play and to be a part of.”

Boosted by increases adopted by the French Open organizers and the French Tennis Federation in recent months, the 64 first-round losers, men and women, earned $27,816 each. After Saturday’s women’s final and Sunday’s men’s final, the winners will receive $1,986,900 each and the losers $993,450 — big paydays for athletes of both genders.

nytimes.com

Kim Clijsters Olympic dream ended by Sharapova

London – Maria Sharapova powered to a 6-2, 7-5 win over Belgium's Kim Clijsters as the Russian world number three booked an Olympic semifinal clash with compatriot Maria Kirilenko.


Sharapova will play 14th seed Kirilenko for a place in the final at Wimbledon after ending Clijsters' hopes of a medal in her penultimate tournament before retiring for the second and final time after the US Open.


French Open champion Sharapova and former world number one Clijsters have eight Grand Slam titles between them, but both were competing in their first Olympics and they have been relishing every moment of it.


Clijsters had advanced to the quarterfinals without dropping a set, so this was a frustrating way to say farewell to the All England Club, but she could have few complaints after being overpowered by Sharapova on Centre Court.


The 29-year-old made a sloppy start as a double-fault on break point in the opening game gifted Sharapova the lead.


Clijsters broke back to level at 2-2 but Sharapova delivered a ruthless response as she won the next four games, breaking twice, to take the set in stunning style.


When Sharapova landed an early break in the second set, it looked all over for Clijsters.


The Belgian refused to wave the white flag and broke back to level at 3-3, but Sharapova wasn't in the mood to be subdued and one last break at 5-5 was enough to end Clijsters's resistence. 

iolsport.co.za

Well I said it was going to be a really tough match so this was not unexpected, it was nice to see Kim fight back in the second set, but it ended up being a little too late, and Sharapova's serve was just too good.

On to the U.S. Open Kim goes.  Good luck Kimmy I'll be cheering for you! :).

Tennis grunters to grunt no more?

Maria Sharapova has backed plans to silence tennis grunters even though the world number one is one of the worst offenders.


Sharapova is well known for pumping up the volume with shrieks and screams during key points and the Russian raised the decibel levels again at Wimbledon on Thursday as she battled to a 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (3-7) 6-0 second round victory over Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova.


But a growing numbers of players and fans are complaining about grunting from the likes of Sharapova and world number two Victoria Azarenka.


Germany’s Sabine Lisicki was the latest to join the backlash as she criticised Bojana Jovanovski for drowning out the sound of the ball hitting the racquet during their match at Wimbledon on Wednesday.


Tennis chiefs are finally ready to act, with WTA chairwoman and chief executive Stacey Allaster determined to stamp out the grunting in future generations.


Allaster’s organisation and the sport’s other governing bodies are developing plans to prevent future players making excessive noise, with one idea to introduce handheld monitors for umpires so they can measure noise levels during matches.


Sharapova agrees officials should be allowed to take action and she said: “I certainly spoke to Stacey about it. We’ve had numerous conversations.


“It’s the first person actually that’s sat down with many people and coaches and sports psychologists and analysts and really reviewed what could be done.


“I’m really happy with the system that she put forth. Going to the juniors, going to the academies that are producing the young players, and putting a system in place, I think it’s extremely smart.”


While Sharapova is happy to see the issue being confronted, she doesn’t believe she would be able to tone down her own, ingrained grunting.


“Certainly not now, not since I’ve been doing it since I was four years old,” Sharapova said.


“It’s definitely tough and impossible to do when you’ve played this sport for over 20 years.”

Ok, so there's gonna be a shriek-o-meter, how does that help exactly?.

What happens when they do get passed a certain decibel do they get penalized for it?.

tennis.com.au

Novak Djokovic has fun imitating Maria Sharapova

The shtick maybe so 3 years ago, but it reminds me why I enjoy Nole in the first place (even if he is a constant thorn in Federer's side especially of late).

But damn, I mean come on the mannerisms are spot on! :D.

Wimbledon streaker hardly phases Sharapova

If there was ever any proof that this woman is a robot or a soldier or whatever you wanna call it. This would be it. A naked guy cartwheeled on to the back of the court and Sharapova hardly batted an eye lol.

Then again same goes for Dementieva. Of course many people would call that total concentration and dedication to the game. But I stand by what I said above lol.

Here is the aforementioned article from Wimbledon:
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/articles/2006-07-04/200607041152022350203.html

Sharapova's shriek too much for some?

Yep, that's right Sharapova's shrieking even bothers the players. Finally one brave soul had enough guts to mention it. I knew it wasn't just me lol.

So thank you Elena Dementieva for proving my point, that the kind of volume Sharapova shrieks at is distracting lol. I find it funny that the Wimbledon article calls it 'grunting'. Grunting? geez, if that's her grunting I don't think I wanna know what her screaming is like lol.

My ears might bleed lol. I think they should definitely have some kind of rule for that. Because I have noticed that Sharapova is capable of playing quietly. I think she doesn't want to. She's even said she has no plans to change it.

I think I would really like Sharapova as a player if it weren't for the constant shrieking during matches, ok and the snobby attitude that she shows at times. There I have said my peace. I hope more players complain about it, and the officials start some kind of rule. Yeah I know I'm reaching lol.

Here is the Wimbledon article I'm referring to:
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/articles/2006-07-04/200607041152039407187.html

Women's Wimbledon semis are set

Well, the draw has finally been narrowed down to the semis. And what semis they will be. First there's the all Belgium final between Kim Clijsters and Justine-Henin, in their 22nd meeting.

Their head to head wins are quite even as well Henin with 11 and Clijsters with 10. This semi-final is basically a repeat of Roland Garros, but I hope that this time it will be Kim who wins it. I would really love for her to win her 1st Wimbledon title. Especially since she plans to retire next year.

Henin of course is trying to win her 5th Grand Slam this year. But I'm still rooting for Kim.

The other semi's will be between Sharapova and Amelie Mauresmo. And this one is a no brainer, I'm sure it will be Sharapova with the way she's playing. Amelie has got a long way to go, she starts off well in a match but then looses her nerve.

And well you can't do that against someone like Sharapova. So I think the final will definitely be between Sharapova and the winner of the Henin/Clijsters match.

Here are a couple of match reports of Kim's and Justine's journey to the semi finals from Wimbly's site:

http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/articles/2006-07-04/200607041152029700250.html Clijsters

http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/reports/2006-07-04/200607041152016097250.html Justine