Maria Sharapova

Happy Birthday, Maria!

2005-04-18T00:00:00.001+01:00

Have a great and special day! I wish you a happy birthday and hope your dream come true. Happy Birthday, Maria!

Sharapova offered 'desperate role'

2005-04-18T00:00:00.000+01:00

Tennis star Maria Sharapova has reportedly been offered a role on Desperate Housewives.

Sharapova was overheard at her 18th birthday party saying she had been offered a guest role on the hit series.

The tall blonde Russian last year became the second youngest Wimbledon champion after thrashing Serena Williams.

Eighteen months ago she signed a contract with IMG Models and has appeared in fashion shoots for several leading fashion and celebrity magazines.

Maria officially #2 in the WTA rankings

2005-04-11T00:00:00.000+01:00

The WTA have released their latest rankings today and Maria is at a career high of #2 with 4892 points just 1 week before her 18th birthday. Congratulations Maria!

Maria celebrates her 18th birthday early

2005-04-10T00:00:00.001+01:00

Motorola held a birthday party for Maria Sharapova in New York City on Satruday. They were a bit ahead since Maria's birthday will only come on April 19. Adam Levine and the rest of Maroon 5 helped the Wimbledon champion celebrate her birthday by playing at her party. 250 guests were attending the bash. Motorola and Maria entered a Marketing Relationship in August of 2004, shortly after her Wimbledon victory.

Maria Sharapova Tennis Announced

2005-04-10T00:00:00.000+01:00

Global mobile game publisher announced its new label name - I-play along with the signing of Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova for its upcoming tennis mobile game.

According to the game company, Maria, who turns 18 on April 19, will front a new mobile game, titled "I-play Maria Sharapova Tennis", soon to be available across Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. “Tennis is a sport that everyone should be able to enjoy across any format, and by using my name in a mobile gaming context, I hope that tennis fans will be able to share my passion, whatever the weather or conditions of play,” said Maria.

“As part of our drive to create mobile games for everyone, we are very pleased to bring an athlete of huge, global appeal like Maria Sharapova to mobile gaming. The game will be simple to play but difficult to master, just like tennis itself, and we are very much looking forward to working with our distribution partners as well as other Maria Sharapova marketing partners to bring it to as wide an audience as possible,” said Paul Maglione, Senior Vice President of Publishing and Marketing for I-play.

Maria NOT playing Fed Cup against Italy

2005-04-05T00:00:00.000+01:00

Maria has decided not to take part in Russia's Fed Cup tie against Italy as her individual tournament schedule is too full, but there is still a possibility that Maria could play other Fed Cup ties for Russia this year. Maria's next tournament will be Berlin on red clay beginning May 4th.

Maria loses in Key Biscane final

2005-04-04T00:00:00.000+01:00

Maria has lost her final match in Miami... She was beaten 3-6 5-7 by Kim Clijsters of Belgium in a match that lasted 1 hour and 37 minutes. There were two rain delays. The wind obviously played a huge factor throughout the match. Both players committed a lot more errors than winners.

This is only Maria's second loss in a final in her very short WTA career. It is her third loss in 2005. Maria's next scheduled tournament is in Berlin in May ; she'll have a long month of vacation.

Sharapova ponders her Russian Fed Cup future

2005-04-02T00:00:00.000+01:00

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has 10 days to decide whether to join the Russian Fed Cup team, the country's tennis chief has said.

"She received a firm offer to join our squad for a first round tie against Italy on April 23-24," Shamil Tarpishchev, who is also Russia's Fed Cup captain, told Reuters in an interview on Friday.

Tarpishchev just returned from Miami where he spent several days trying to persuade the 17-year-old and her father Yuri to commit themselves to Russia's cause.

Maria Sharapova Named Tennis Player of the Year

2005-03-25T00:00:00.000Z

Maria Sharapova has become a three-time winner at the inaugural Pro Tennis Choice Awards on Tuesday night in Miami, a WTA Tour press-release says.

Maria was named the WTA Tour Player of the Year after winning her first Grand Slam event and claiming four titles. The 17-year-old Maria also received the Most Improved Player award and the Fans’ Favorite award.

'Miami experience helped me win Wimbledon'

2005-03-24T00:00:00.000Z

Maria Sharapova believes the experience she gained at last year's Nasdaq-100 Open helped her win Wimbledon.

The Russian teenager reached the last 16 in Miami before losing 6-4 6-3 to eventual champion Serena Williams, the player she beat in the Wimbledon final four months later.

"It definitely helped me with experience. I had never played her before," said Sharapova.

"It was one of those matches where I went out and I played a pretty good match but I didn't do enough to win. I learned a lot and it helped me in my Wimbledon final."

Maria Sharapova thumped by Davenport

2005-03-19T00:00:00.000Z

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was buried 6-0 6-0 by top ranked Lindsay Davenport in the semi-finals of the Pacific Life Open on Friday.

In a humbling defeat for the third ranked Sharapova, Davenport controlled the 49-minute match, painting the corners while the 17-year-old flailed at her shots.

Sharapova entered the match with a 17-1 record this year, but she was a shell of her former self, collecting only 10 winners while registering 42 unforced errors.

LAUREUS SPORTS AWARDS - NOMINEES 2005

2005-03-12T00:00:00.000Z

WORLD SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR:

Kelly Holmes (UK) - athletics
Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia) - athletics
Carolina Kluft (Sweden) - athletics
Maria Sharapova (Russia) - tennis
Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) - golf
Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands) - cycling

Maria chases No.1 spot

2005-03-11T00:00:00.000Z

IF tennis beauty Maria Sharapova wins the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells and the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami in three weeks' time, she will have a good chance of taking over from Lindsay Davenport as world No.1.

The spotlight will then shine even more brightly on the Wimbledon champion, who will become the first Russian female to go top of the rankings. "When I was younger and getting attention, it seemed I was in the spotlight all the time,"Maria Sharapova, 17, said today.

"People were expecting the best from me and they thought I would be the best. But I knew there was going to be a difference between thinking you are the best and actually being the best. "Now that I'm (world) No.3 and up there, I feel I deserved those compliments. "The No.1 ranking doesn't cross my mind every day. If I keep winning, I'll move up the rankings. As long as I'm winning, I'm in good hands."

Motorola launches the Digital Sharapova experience

2005-03-08T00:00:00.000Z

The Digital Sharapova Experience is the place to get exclusive access to Maria Sharapova's active lifestyle. See how she does it on Motorala's site :
Maria Sharapova

The site will include never before seen, exclusive behind the scenes footage starring Maria and some very lucky fans from around the world. Each month, lucky fans will get a personal response to their questions ! Not to mention the opportunity to win invitations to attend Maria's birthday party...

Maria wins Doha final !

2005-02-26T00:00:00.000Z

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova won her second WTA Tour title this month, rallying past Alicia Molik of Australia 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 Saturday in the Qatar Open final. Mariai second seed prevailed over the Australian fourth seed 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in an intense final to claim the 94,000 dollar top prize and jump to number three in the WTA rankings.

School's out for Sharapova

2005-02-25T00:00:00.000Z

Maria is used to scooting past her opponents on the tennis court. But the Russian 2004 Wimbledon Champion admitted that she is not in a huge hurry to finish high school. The teenager, aged 17, is now one of the most marketable stars of her generation, says school is not a priority at the moment. "Of course I'd like to finish school, but I am not in a great hurry," Sharapova said in an interview at the WTA Qatar Open.

"At the moment I am travelling a lot and playing a lot of tournaments around the world which makes it difficult for me to complete my courses. Frankly, I don't think I can handle much homework at this point of time," she smiled. Sharapova moved to the US as a child to train at the Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy when she was nine. She attends an online school and gives her tests whenever she can, although she admits she has a problem with maths.

Stay healthy, become No.1: Sharapova mantra

2005-02-20T00:00:00.000Z

Reigning Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has her ambition charted out for the future - stay healthy to become the world number one.

The Russian teenage tennis queen flew into Doha for the 600,000 dollar Qatar Open beginning on Monday and made no secret of the fact that she aspires to grab Lindsay Davenport's top ranking.

"I won the Japan Open this month beating Davenport in the final but had to miss out on the Paris Open because of the flu, but I am fit and ready now," she said.

"I have now realised how important it is to stay healthy especially because I want to be the best player in the world."

Sharapova said she has put behind her the defeat to Serena Williams in the semifinals of the Australian Open after sitting pretty with three match points.

"I was disappointed then but now I don't even think about that defeat. It seems so long ago," said the 17-year-old, who has spent the past few days in Spain where she trained to regain her fitness after skipping Paris.

"I really feel good now and I will have three more days in Doha to acclimatise to the conditions here before playing my first match."

Ranked fourth in the world, Sharapova is seeded second in the Qatar Open which also features her compatriot Anastasia Myskina and world number two Amelie Mauresmo.

Frenchwoman Mauresmo is the top seed here, followed by Sharapova, Myskina and Alicia Molik who have all been given first round byes which means they get to see action only on Wednesday.

Myskina, who is on track for a hat-trick in Doha, and Sharapova are in the bottom half of the draw and could run into each other in the semifinals, something the teenage superstar said she was not worried about.

"You have to be ready for everything when you are playing an important tournament because everyone wants to do well," she said.

Sharapova recovered for Qatar Open

2005-02-19T00:00:00.000Z

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has recovered from the illness that forced her to pull out of the Paris Open and is fit for the WTA event in Qatar that starts on Monday. "I was sick, down with flu and an upper respiratory illness. That's why I pulled out of the Paris Open but now I have recovered," the Russian world number four said on her arrival in Doha on Saturday.

After a two week hiatus through illness, Maria is well rested. She is set to continue her 2005 season by making her maiden appearance at the Qatar Open, which starts on Monday. The Wimbledon champion is seeded second behind Amelie Mauresmo (France) for the $600.000 event in Doha. Sharapova landed on Saturday to restart her season after succumbing to the flu.

Maria pulls out of Parisian tourney

2005-02-18T00:00:00.000Z

Maria decided to pull out of the Open Gaz de France tennis event on Wednesday, citing an upper respiratory infection.

Maria Beats Davenport in Tokyo Final

2005-02-06T00:00:00.000Z

Reigning Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova beat No. 1 Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the Pan Pacific Open final Sunday and will move up to a career-high third in the WTA Tour rankings. Sharapova prevented Davenport from winning a record fifth title at the indoor tournament. Davenport, who lost to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final last weekend, hit 13 aces against Sharapova but needed a medical timeout after the first set because of a sore left thigh.

Wimbledon top priority for Sharapova

2005-01-31T00:00:00.000Z

Maria Sharapova will give top priority to the defence of her Wimbledon title this year after insisting the world number one ranking can wait.

"Being number one is not for this year, I don't think," Sharapova told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. "For this year, I would love to defend Wimbledon. It's what drives me." "My main goal is to be number one in the world of course," added the Russian, who is playing at this week's Pan Pacific Open tournament in Tokyo.

"But if it's not tomorrow, or not in a year then, you know, if it will happen it will happen -- if not, whatever." Sharapova was less ambivalent when asked about her fierce rivalry with Serena Williams, who she beat in last year's Wimbledon final and at the season-ending WTA Tour Championships.

Sharapova Donates Porsche Proceeds to Beslan Victims

2005-01-28T00:00:00.000Z

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova on Friday handed over more than $50,000 to victims of last year's school siege in Beslan, Russia.

The 17-year-old Siberian signed over the proceeds of an auction she held for the Porsche car she won at the season-ending WTA Tour Championships.

Sharapova's auction raised $56,300.

"Making this donation was the least that I could do to help the innocent victims in my country who were tragically affected by this senseless act," Sharapova said.

"I encourage everyone to do as much as they can to bring at least a little bit of comfort and support to these victims and their families who are still stricken with grief and sadness."

Mainly Chechen separatists took over a school with 1,300 hostages last September and held it for two days.

An operation by Russian security forces to end the siege collapsed in chaos and bloodshed in which 330 people -- half of them children -- were killed.

Williams battles past Sharapova in semis

2005-01-27T00:00:00.000Z

Former champion Serena Williams clawed her way back from the brink to beat fourth seed Maria Sharapova 2-6 7-5 8-6 on Thursday, avenging her Wimbledon defeat and reaching the Australian Open final.

Sharapova, who beat the former world number one in last year's Wimbledon final, served for the match in the second and third sets of a tense semi-final.

Williams, the 2003 champion, broke the 17-year-old Russian both times, desperately saving three match points on Sharapova's serve in the 10th game of the third set.

Seventh seed Williams broke Sharapova in the final game with a backhand winner after two hours and 39 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams jumped and screamed with joy after another remarkable Melbourne comeback. She saved two match points in her semi-final against Belgian Kim Clijsters in 2003, battling back from 1-5 down in the third set to win.

"I've had a lot of great wins on this court, two times in a row I've been down match point to win. This is such a special court for me," said Williams, who was unable to defend her 2003 title because of injury.

Maria sticks to tennis

2005-01-18T00:00:00.000Z

THE IMG Oz Open players party at Crown casino at Breezes was again a major hit among all the top players and, as usual, a fantastic way to start the 2005 party season. IMG big names Maria Sharapova, Venus and Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Daniela Huntuchova all turned up on Sunday night.

Sharapova, last year's Wimbledon winner, was dressed in a short denim mini-skirt. It seems she has quite a few fans among Melbourne's AFL ranks. Several of the IMG-managed footy players who wandered into Breezes wanted to meet the superstar from Russia. But she wasn't that keen.

Maria ambassador for Moscow's Olympics 2012 bid

2005-01-17T00:00:00.000Z

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has been chosen to become an ambassador for the Moscow bid to host the 2012 Olympics, city officials said on Monday.
"For Moscow to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games would be a dream for me and millions of other Russians," the Siberian-born teenager was quoted as saying by the Moscow bid committee.

"I am looking forward to helping explain why Moscow should host the Games," added the Florida-based Russian.

"Russia has a very strong history of sports and having the Olympic Games in Moscow in 2012 would be a new and brilliant chapter in that history."

Maria plays down talk of Russian rift

2005-01-15T00:00:00.000Z

Maria Sharapova, the Wimbledon winner has played down talk of a rift between her and other Russian tennis "tsarinas" ; this, just ahead of this year's Australian Open.
The 17-year-old star stunned the world of tennis in 2004 when she won Wimbledon in one remarkable season where three Grand Slam crowns were won by Russian players.

Four Stars Come Out for TAG Heuer

2005-01-12T00:00:00.000Z

Four Stars Come Out for TAG Heuer as the Luxury Watchmaker Unveils its 2005 Brand Ambassadors and New Ad Campaign Fusing Sport and Glamour - Uma Thurman, Tiger Woods, Maria Sharapova, and Jeff Gordon Are Presented by Patrick Demarchelier in the TAG Heuer 'What Are You Made Of' Advertising Campaign

Tennis champion Maria Sharapova becomes TAG Heuer's youngest brand ambassador. In just two seasons, she became one of the top-ranking tennis players in the world and the winner of the 2004 Wimbledon and WTA year-end championships. Ms. Sharapova has made her mark on the pro tennis circuit, quickly advancing to the number four spot and winning two of the biggest tournaments in championship tennis.

According to the 17-year-old Russian tennis star and third youngest Wimbledon Champion in WTA history, "To represent a brand as legendary as TAG Heuer is a privilege. I am thrilled to become a TAG Heuer brand ambassador. To me, TAG Heuer is a perfect fit because I love fine watches, glamour and winning. I look forward to building a strong relationship with TAG Heuer in the coming years."

Maria quits HK tennis exhibition game on fitness concern

2005-01-10T00:00:00.000Z

Maria Sharapova quit the Hong Kong tennis exhibition game due to concerns upon fitness on Friday. The 17-year-old Russian beauty said she suffered a stomachache and felt too weak to play competition. "Last night at about 2 a.m. I woke up with an upset stomach, feeling cold and flu-like. I called the hotel doctor who gave me some medication," said Sharapova. "This morning I felt very weak, I had no energy and I realized that I simply couldn't play. "The doctor also told me that it would be best for me to rest until at least Monday.

Maria has a stomach virus

2005-01-07T00:00:00.000Z

Maria has a stomach virus, here is what she has to say about it : "Last night I got a stomach virus. The doctor checked me out and this morning I was very weak.".

Maria is not expected to be a doubt for the Australian Open, which starts on 17 January.