2oceansvibe News | South African and international news

Sponsored by RSAWeb rss
2ov Radio
  • Home
  • About
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Seth Rotherham
  • 2ov Radio
  • Café du Cap
  • Cabine du Cap
  • Cape Town Apartment
  • Media Packs / Advertising
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Anonymous Tips
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
Seth Rotherham
  • Maria Sharapova Says Goodbye

    27 Feb 2020 by Kiernan in Sport, Tennis
    Related Posts
    • The Australian Open Has Already Turned Into A Bit Of A Disaster
    • Did You See The Watch Rafa Nadal Wore During The French Open? [Video]
    • Djokovic Hits Line Judge In The Face - Again [Videos]
    • Djokovic Disqualified From US Open For Hitting Line Judge In Throat [Videos]
    • Got A Tennis Court? A Slinger Bag Is The Best Toy You Can Buy Yourself [Video]

    [imagesource: William West / AFP]

    Cue Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman’s Time to Say Goodbye.

    Yesterday, 32-year-old Maria Sharapova announced her retirement, bringing to a close a journey that began when she was spotted by Martina Navratilova at a Moscow tennis clinic when she was just six, resulting in her family moving to Florida.

    At the age of just 17, she won Wimbledon, having won three matches at the previous year’s event, and in doing so became the third-youngest woman to do so.

    Some would say she delivered on her promise, winning five Grand Slam titles and sitting pretty at number one in the world rankings for quite some time.

    Before we look at if that was really the case, we should let Maria say her own goodbye, which she did in a lengthy article on Vogue.

    You can read the full article here, but I’ll pluck out some of her more poignant words:

    How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known? How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love—one which brought you untold tears and unspeakable joys—a sport where you found a family, along with fans who rallied behind you for more than 28 years?

    I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis—I’m saying goodbye.

    Before we get to the end, though, let me start at the beginning. The first time I remember seeing a tennis court, my father was playing on it. I was four years old in Sochi, Russia—so small that my tiny legs were dangling off the bench I was sitting on…

    The first courts I ever played on were uneven concrete with faded lines. Over time, they became muddy clay and the most gorgeous, manicured grass your feet could ever step upon. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever win on the sport’s biggest stages—and on every surface…

    Throughout my career, ​“Is it worth it?”​ was never even a question—in the end, it always was. My mental fortitude has always been my strongest weapon. Even if my opponent was physically stronger, more confident—even just plain better—I could, and did, persevere…

    Tennis showed me the world—and it showed me what I was made of. It’s how I tested myself and how I measured my growth. And so in whatever I might choose for my next chapter, my next mountain, I’ll still be pushing. I’ll still be climbing. I’ll still be growing.

    As I said, that is just some of what she said. Below, you can watch her read out parts of her statement and offer some reflections:

    Sharapova certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and she does leave behind a complex legacy.

    As the Washington Post points out, the final five or so years of her career were blighted by controversy:

    In 2016, she received a two-year ban after a positive test for meldonium, a substance that had been banned less than a month earlier and one she had taken for years (her suspension later was reduced to 15 months by an arbitration panel, which found she was not an “intentional doper”).

    Sharapova, somewhat infamously, also struggled against Serena Williams as the American maintained her spot atop tennis’s hierarchy: After winning two of the first three matches they played, Sharapova lost the next 19. Their most recent meeting, in the first round of the 2019 U.S. Open, lasted only 58 minutes.

    People love to call Maria and Serena’s duels a ‘rivalry’, but losing 19 times in succession, and finishing with a loss in under an hour, isn’t exactly a battle for tennis superiority.

    In 2019, Sharapova only managed to play 15 matches, winning eight and losing seven, and she retires with a world ranking of 373.

    If you’re talking about earning power, however, then a rivalry with Serena is a fair call. Last year, Sharapova ranked second on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest female athletes – behind Serena, naturally.

    With an estimated net worth of around $195 million, she can be pleased with her efforts.

    [sources:vogue&washpost]

    • ← Viral London Tube Singer Performs Live On Ellen [Video]
    • Guess Which Movie Everyone’s Watching Since The Coronavirus Outbreak? [Trailer] →
    • Tweet
    • Tags:
    • maria sharapova
    • retirement
    • Tennis

    Latest News

    • Latest Eskom Report Shows Load Shedding Nightmare Ahead

      [imagesource: Alon Skuy] Even if you only have the most passing interest in what's happ...

    • Some Of The Cape’s Wine Farms Are Still Ticking Along

      If you think that visiting a wine farm with the current ban on alcohol sales and on-site c...

    • 2oceansvibe Weekend Sports Wrap

      [imagesource: Getty Images] Each Monday, I’ll be putting together a wrap of the weekend...

    • Handy Tips On Growing Your Wealth In 2021

      [imagesource:here] For many people, 2020 was the year that everything fell apart. Fi...

    • Insolvent Estate: Constantia Palace Goes On Auction

      [imagesource: Property24] Before we take a look at this palatial Constantia home, let's...


    • 2oceansvibe Partners

    • CONTACT US
    • GOT A HOT STORY?
    • 2oceansvibe Radio
    • 2oceansvibe Media
    • Media Pack
    • Seth Rotherham
    • Café du Cap
    • Cabine du Cap
    • Cape Town City Accommodation
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Business
    • Media
    • Entertainment
    • Tech/Sci
    • World
    • Travel
    • Lifestyle
    • Sport
    • Politics
  • Follow

    2oceansvibe.com is part of the 2oceansVibe Media Group

    DMMA Logo