Concrete Blonde: Wozniacki Outhits Sharapova

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — The talk all week long was of Maria Sharapova’s mental toughness; how the steely Russian never quits; how she’s always had a knack for fighting back when things look gloomy, including her recent comeback from shoulder surgery.
Somewhere along the line Caroline Wozniacki got overlooked.
Sure, we knew the ‘09 U.S. Open finalist [...]

No Idol Worship For Sharapova

Siberian Siren: ‘I Never Thought Someone Was So Good That I Wanted To Be Like Them’

American psychotherapist Sheldon Kopp once observed, “There are no great men. If you have a hero, look again — you have diminished yourself in some way.”
Maria Sharapova would heartily agree.  Unlike her WTA sisterhood, many of whom grew up idolizing the Grand Slam greats who came before them, filling their rooms with posters and, in [...]

Azaraneka Snares First Title of 2010

Belarusian Too Much for Spent Sharapova in Bank of the West Final

STANFORD, CALIF. —  Call it a belated birthday gift.  A day after turning 21, Victoria Azarenka captured her first title of 2010, breaking Maria Sharapova six times in a 6-4, 6-1 victory at the Bank of the West Classic.

Imperfect Sharapova Reaches Fourth Final of Year

Russian to Face Azarenka for Bank of the West Title

STANFORD, CALIF. – We can’t say we weren’t warned.  It was Marion Bartoli who cautioned us, “If you have a Sharapova-Azarenka match, you better come up with some earplugs.”  If you’ve got a pair, it looks like it’s time to break them out.  And bring a decibel meter while you’re at it.

Pole Position: Radwanska Strong In U.S. Open Tune-Up

No. 3 Seed Books BOW Semis With 7-5, 6-0 Domination of Kirilenko

STANFORD, CALIF. — Agnieszka Radwanska was just 18 when she scored the bona fide breakout win of her career, a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 third-round dismantling of defending U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova on a swirling, wind-swept day inside the bigger-than-life Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2007.

Notebook: Sasha, Masha and Miss Fabulous

SASHA AND MASHA: NBAer Sasha Vujacic was on hand to watch his girlfriend Maria Sharapova during a recent World TeamTennis showdown in Newport Beach, Calif.  But according to observers, his head wasn’t in the match.  Wrote the Daily Pilot’s David Carrillo Penaloza, Vujacic “seemed too busy looking into the stands, wishing someone would notice he [...]

Sharapova Impresses at Bank of the West Classic

Russian Advances With 6-4, 7-5 Win Over Zheng

STANFORD, CALIF. – For a player who in the past two years has both overhauled her shoulder and her serve, Russia’s Maria Sharapova showed few signs of weakness in an all-business 6-4, 7-5 opening-round win over China’s Jie Zheng at the Bank of the West Classic.

When Piledriver Forehands Turn to Pattercakes

QUICK!  WHERE’S THE NEAREST SALVATION ARMY?: Hugh MacDonald said that Andy Murray “walks with the gait of someone who has just realized he left his winning lottery ticket in the trousers he donated to the charity shop.”
HAPPY IN VICTORY/HAPPY IN DEFEAT: After falling to Sam Querrey in the Queen’s final 7-6(3), 7-5, Mardy Fish said [...]

Glam Slam

Glitz, Glamour and the History of Tennis Fashion

To some, fashion is the very expression of self, an intriguing part of life with a defining essence all its own: a freeform, feel-good celebration of style and beauty.

Has the Rebel Finally Found a Cause?

AA’s Autobiography Continues to Draw Reaction...Serena’s No. 1…Quotebook

OOPS, THERE GOES THE QUAKER OATS: When a reporter asked Maria Sharapova whether or not the WTA Tour should provide “a mental health break or a sabbatical” for its players, the Russian nearly tossed her breakfast, saying, “I just about spit my oatmeal out of my mouth.  That was really funny.”
SHOCKED AND AWED: Boris Becker [...]