Maria Sharapova retires from professional tennis
- Thread starter ibbi
- Start date
One thing I admire about her is that she came up the hard way, not as some country club brat or D1 player. At age 6, in Russia, she attended a clinic and met Martina Navratilova, who suggested she go to Bottlieri's academy. Her dad borrowed money for the tickets and they came to the US with $700 and not speaking a word of English. He worked multiple low paying jobs to keep a roof over their heads and pay for her tennis training. She played and practiced almost 24/7, until finally making it into the pro tour. The rest is history. It's quite a story. Good luck, Maria.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Probably due to Sharapova knowing she's not American nor is she perceived as American. In a sport where nations are so clearly a part of the sense of competition, she--and no one in America--ever saw her as anything other than Russian, which explains her loyalties.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Interesting. I believe Petr Korda (who won a single major) is not in the ITHoF, and it could be due to being exposed as a doper. Theoretically, if that's the Hall's criteria for not adding him, then it should most certainly apply to Sharapova.
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THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Whoops to everyone who bought into that--especially the worst of her fans, like one (with three letters for his TW screenname) who is either absent or uses one of his many alternate accounts/screennames.
..and the "career slam" was and will always be a fake consolation prize to award those who never had the ability to win the Grand Slam.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
No matter how many times you post that, it will always be a false accusation.
Subway Tennis
Legend
That was a great match. Some nice defence from Masha to compliment the frenzied attacking play as well.
Without doubt one of the most commercially successful and marketable female athletes ever.
An accomplished career with winning all four majors, something we will not see again for a very, very long time in the WTA. Didn't have the depth or skills in her game but always had a fierce intensity and competitiveness that made her win titles.
Surely the hottest tennis female player ever. Unlike Kournikovia, she actually had the success to back up the looks. She was the true glamour supermodel of the sport.
Unfortunately her achievements will be forever tainted by the Meldonium scandal. The complete ownage by Serena in the 'rivalry' that never was. Also the fact that she has never endeared herself amongst her peers - haven't seen too many tributes coming from other players within the tour.
Good luck for the future Maria - who made a huge impact within the sport whether you like her or not.
Farewell to the finest pair of legs within tennis.
An accomplished career with winning all four majors, something we will not see again for a very, very long time in the WTA. Didn't have the depth or skills in her game but always had a fierce intensity and competitiveness that made her win titles.
Surely the hottest tennis female player ever. Unlike Kournikovia, she actually had the success to back up the looks. She was the true glamour supermodel of the sport.
Unfortunately her achievements will be forever tainted by the Meldonium scandal. The complete ownage by Serena in the 'rivalry' that never was. Also the fact that she has never endeared herself amongst her peers - haven't seen too many tributes coming from other players within the tour.
Good luck for the future Maria - who made a huge impact within the sport whether you like her or not.
Farewell to the finest pair of legs within tennis.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
That impact was mostly negative, so on a balance she won't be missed by anyone who appreciates good tennis.
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Phoenix1983
G.O.A.T.
Wrong about what?
mike danny
Bionic Poster
And the same boyfriend, apparently.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
NaomiKonjuhPotapova
G.O.A.T.
I'm waiting for fellow players tribute video LOL
Too bad Wozniacki and Radwanska will not be in it.
Too bad Wozniacki and Radwanska will not be in it.
AM75
Hall of Fame
But Serena might be!
Sport
G.O.A.T.
No it isn't. Nadal has won both more RG and more USO titles than Novak. So Nadal has a better distribution than Novak in 2 of 4 Slams. Not to mention that Nadal has won at least 2 Grand Slams on each surface (hard, grass and clay), while Novak only has 1 Grand Slam on clay.
sredna42
Hall of Fame
Nope. Watched 10 seconds or so, and nope. That squealing and shrieking is literally unbearable.
mxmx
Hall of Fame
Seriously? Sharapova hasn't been a theat to Serena.
Sport
G.O.A.T.
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Tennis_Hands
Banned
Many "gave a fig" and reacted accordingly. Errani was smart enough to not go all out and rub in the face of the public things that no one would believe, and so reduced the backlash from whoever would have been interested, as opposed to Sharapova, who had a couple (well, multiple) lines in which she kept reminding everyone about her case. I always find it amusing when a player keeps coming back with more nonsense and then complains about increased backlash. It is true for every offender (yes, Kyrgios too, before someone starts BSing again), but some are particularly bad/hilarious as they seem to think that they speak from some superior moral ground.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Very few gave a fig about Errani, apart from me obviously, as I explained carefully before the curtain fell.
Many "gave a fig" and reacted accordingly. Errani was smart enough to not go all out and rub in the face of the public things that no one would believe, and so reduced the backlash from whoever would have been interested, as opposed to Sharapova, who had a couple (well, multiple) lines in which she kept reminding everyone about her case. I always find it amusing when a player keeps coming back with more nonsense and then complains about increased backlash. It is true for every offender (yes, Kyrgios too, before someone starts BSing again), but some are particularly bad/hilarious as they seem to think that they speak from some superior moral ground.
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
...
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Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players (active and former) and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (1st part):
Novak Djokovic
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
Petra Kvitova
Riccardo Piatti (last Masha' coach)
Novak Djokovic
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
Petra Kvitova
Riccardo Piatti (last Masha' coach)
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helixx
Hall of Fame
You have missed couple of them. : )
Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (2nd part):
Dinara Safina
Jannik Sinner
Amanda Anisimova
Daria Gavrilova
Barbara Schett
Dinara Safina
Maria Sharapova, you were in my farewell day in Madrid!
We were rivals when we played individual tournaments! But We were also the most friendly team when we played for Russia!
Thanks for what you did for tennis! Thank you for inspiring children so much!
Be the happiest in your new life phase ✨
# tennis # legend # sport
We were rivals when we played individual tournaments! But We were also the most friendly team when we played for Russia!
Thanks for what you did for tennis! Thank you for inspiring children so much!
Be the happiest in your new life phase ✨
# tennis # legend # sport
Jannik Sinner
Amanda Anisimova
Daria Gavrilova
Barbara Schett
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Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (3rd part):
French Open
Monica Puig
Donna Vekic
Magnus Norman
HEAD
French Open
Monica Puig
Donna Vekic
Magnus Norman
HEAD
Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (4th part):
Wimbledon
Australian Open
Wimbledon
Australian Open
Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (5th part):
US Open
US Open
Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (6th part):
Rogers Cup (Canadian Open)
Madrid Open
IMG
Cincinnati
Italian Open (Rome)
Rogers Cup (Canadian Open)
Madrid Open
IMG
Cincinnati
Italian Open (Rome)
Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (7th part):
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Zheng Saisai
Tianjin Open
ITF
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Zheng Saisai
Tianjin Open
ITF
Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (8th part):
Hall of Fame
Miami Open
Stuttgart
Stefanos Tsitsipas
ESPN
Hall of Fame
Miami Open
Stuttgart
Stefanos Tsitsipas
ESPN
Enceladus
Legend
Reactions of tennis players and others on the retirement of Maria Sharapova (9th part):
WTA
Craig Tiley
Mardy Fish
Karen Khachanov
Kei Nishikori
WTA
Craig Tiley
Mardy Fish
Karen Khachanov
Kei Nishikori
Mr.Lob
G.O.A.T.
@Enceladus Thanks for posting the awesome player and corporate reactions to Sharapova 's retirement. 
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
@Enceladus thank you for all the player etc comments. Very enjoyable to read.
Side bar, predictable mean spirited posts from the rabid Serens Williams fanatics.
I was never a fan of Sharapova but she brought an awareness of tennis to people who don't give a fig about the sport. As such she belongs to a rare, select group.
Side bar, predictable mean spirited posts from the rabid Serens Williams fanatics.
I was never a fan of Sharapova but she brought an awareness of tennis to people who don't give a fig about the sport. As such she belongs to a rare, select group.
helixx
Hall of Fame
@Enceladus thanks for the posts!
Mainad
Bionic Poster
"Sharapova goes quietly into retirement - but it will not be the last we hear from her":
Maria Sharapova goes quietly into retirement - but it will not be the last we hear of her
Maria Sharapova may be going quietly into retirement but it certainly will not be the last we hear of her, writes Russell Fuller.
www.bbc.co.uk
JasonG2019
Rookie
She will be sorely missed. A hard worker and dedicated to her profession and very marketable. A wonderful ambassador for the game. Thanks for the memories Maria .
AM75
Hall of Fame
Wow, what a crap!"Sharapova goes quietly into retirement - but it will not be the last we hear from her":
Maria Sharapova goes quietly into retirement - but it will not be the last we hear of her
Maria Sharapova may be going quietly into retirement but it certainly will not be the last we hear of her, writes Russell Fuller.www.bbc.co.uk
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Djokodalerer31
Hall of Fame
Or better yet where's the nice tweet from Bouchard?
And what about Mladenovic? LOL
Sharapova hasn't beaten Serena since 2004. The record is more like 2-22
