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TRIBUTE TO TENNIS GREAT, MARIA SHARAPOVA
BY MAX WINTERS
Maria Sharapova was the cover girl tennis star who won Wimbledon at 17, dated the rich and famous and was embroiled in a drugs scandal… all after her family had fled Belarus to avoid the impact of Chernobyl
Ever since she shocked Serena Williams to win Wimbledon as an unknown 17-year-old, Maria Sharapova has rarely been out of the spotlight – on or off the court.
Her decision to retire from tennis on Wednesday means the end of a career for one of the game’s true bona fide stars who transcends the world of tennis.
It was immediately obvious there was more to Sharapova than just powerful groundstrokes when, after dismantling Williams all those years ago, she stunned onlookers by climbing into the crowd on Centre Court to embrace her family and called her mother to celebrate.
Sharapova was born in Siberia after her parents moved away from Belarus in fear of the repercussions from the Chernobyl disaster. Thanks to advice from tennis legend Martina Navratilova, Sharapova and her father Yuri moved to Florida when she was just six to step up her tennis coaching.
Unable to speak English, Sharapova’s mother was unable to join them for two years but that call from the Centre Court was just reward for their sacrifices.
After that famous win she became an overnight sensation and that was the catalyst for a successful career both on and off the court. Sharapova quickly became the face of global brands, including Nike, Porsche and Evian, and was a cover star for Teen Vogue magazine.
Her love life became of particular interest to fans and just a year after her stunning upset at Wimbledon, Sharapova was dating Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine following a rumoured meeting at her 18th birthday party.
It did not last long though and her next romance was with someone slightly closer to home. Talk was rife during the 2006 US Open that Sharapova and Andy Roddick were together but again things went south quickly.
She also dated Charlie Ebersol briefly before engaging in a three-year relationship with basketball player Sasha Vujacic. They were serious and even got engaged in 2010 before breaking up after two years.
Sharapova returned to the tennis dating scene with Bulgarian player Grigor Dimitrov after catching his eye during a match in 2013. Things didn’t last long again with Dimitrov, who also went out with rival Serena Williams, and they broke up two years later.
She is now dating British business man Alexander Gilkes, the co-founder of online auction platform Paddle8 and they have been together since 2018.
It is well know that her contemporaries in the women’s game have often found Sharapova cold and unfriendly. Nobody more so than Williams, with whom Sharapova has had a long-running feud ever since that Saturday at SW19 over a decade ago.
There was certainly tension between then pair but on court it was Williams who was the dominant force, with the American winning 19 straight matches against Sharapova dating back to 2004.
Writing in her autobiography, ‘Unstoppable: My Life So Far’, Sharapova said: ‘I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon.’
Agonising shoulder pain put paid to her best days on court while a 15-month suspension in 2016 for testing positive for cardiac drug Meldonium saw her spotlight dim massively.
In recent years, Sharapova has made the most of her position in sports to launch business interests, including the launch of her sweet and chocolate line Sugarpova.
Her portfolio also includes investment in UFC, sun cream brand Supergoop and an app that allows normal folk to message celebrities. It sounds like there will be plenty to keep her occupied as she puts her racket down for good.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”
-Reuters
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With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.
Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.
The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.
Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.
While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.
Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.
FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.
HARSH REALITY
The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.
One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.
Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.
“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”
By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.
Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.
“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”
As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.
After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.
-Reuters
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All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.
Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.
Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.
Results of Semi Finals (Women)
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
- Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
Results of Semi-Finals (Men)
- Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
- Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
WOMEN’S FINAL
- Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons
MEN’S FINAL
- Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United
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