US Open: Sharapova heads for ice cream after Azarenka loss
Former world number one turned into a ‘mature’ player.
NEW YORK:
Maria Sharapova refused to lick her wounds after her US Open semi-final loss to Victoria Azarenka, opting instead for the consoling taste of a New York-style vanilla ice cream.
The Russian insists her casual response to failing yet again to make the final of a tournament she last conquered in 2006 is an indication of a new, mature Maria, one learning to take defeat, as well as victory, in her stride.
"I'm looking forward to checking out the ice cream truck that's around the corner from my hotel,” said Sharapova. “Vanilla with rainbow sprinkles. It has been haunting me.”
Sharapova - whose Grand Slam title haul remains at four from wins at Wimbledon in 2004, New York two years later, the Australian Open in 2008 and this year's French Open - believes her new, easy-come, easy-go attitude is a legacy of her battles with a career-threatening shoulder injury.
"In the last few years, especially after my injury, I have been a lot better about accepting wins and accepting losses. I try to think that if you're level-headed about difficult defeats and then if you get something in your career that's incredible, you take it in a calm way, then the defeats don't seem as difficult. After I won the French Open of course I was so happy, but I had this really calm feeling that, you know, like a settlement in my career.”
Bryans claim credit for Garcia's golden touch
Bob and Mike Bryan claimed some of the credit on Friday for helping Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia end a four-year win drought and claim a place in the Ryder Cup.
The American brothers won Olympic doubles gold in London last month and have been carrying their gold medals around with them ever since, including at the Cincinnati WTA and ATP Masters event where Garcia was watching.
"I actually let Garcia wear it in Cincinnati," said Bob. "Then he went on to win and made $1.5 million in two weeks. So I think it's good luck."
Garcia's win in Greensboro, North Carolina, in August, was his first on the US PGA Tour since 2008.
The Bryan brothers collected a record-equalling 12th Grand Slam men's doubles title on Friday when they defeated Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4 in the US Open final.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2012.
Maria Sharapova refused to lick her wounds after her US Open semi-final loss to Victoria Azarenka, opting instead for the consoling taste of a New York-style vanilla ice cream.
The Russian insists her casual response to failing yet again to make the final of a tournament she last conquered in 2006 is an indication of a new, mature Maria, one learning to take defeat, as well as victory, in her stride.
"I'm looking forward to checking out the ice cream truck that's around the corner from my hotel,” said Sharapova. “Vanilla with rainbow sprinkles. It has been haunting me.”
Sharapova - whose Grand Slam title haul remains at four from wins at Wimbledon in 2004, New York two years later, the Australian Open in 2008 and this year's French Open - believes her new, easy-come, easy-go attitude is a legacy of her battles with a career-threatening shoulder injury.
"In the last few years, especially after my injury, I have been a lot better about accepting wins and accepting losses. I try to think that if you're level-headed about difficult defeats and then if you get something in your career that's incredible, you take it in a calm way, then the defeats don't seem as difficult. After I won the French Open of course I was so happy, but I had this really calm feeling that, you know, like a settlement in my career.”
Bryans claim credit for Garcia's golden touch
Bob and Mike Bryan claimed some of the credit on Friday for helping Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia end a four-year win drought and claim a place in the Ryder Cup.
The American brothers won Olympic doubles gold in London last month and have been carrying their gold medals around with them ever since, including at the Cincinnati WTA and ATP Masters event where Garcia was watching.
"I actually let Garcia wear it in Cincinnati," said Bob. "Then he went on to win and made $1.5 million in two weeks. So I think it's good luck."
Garcia's win in Greensboro, North Carolina, in August, was his first on the US PGA Tour since 2008.
The Bryan brothers collected a record-equalling 12th Grand Slam men's doubles title on Friday when they defeated Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4 in the US Open final.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2012.