Yes, Kournikova did not win tournaments, did not become a champion of the caliber of Steffi Graf, Monica Seles or Martina Hingis. But she made even those men who were never interested in sports follow women's tennis. Anya's appearance deserved that, and the most profitable advertising contracts only confirmed the general excitement. Kournikova was the first Russian tennis player that the best representatives of the elite had to reckon with. A little later, more fortunate Russian women in sporting terms entered the arena – Anastasia Myskina, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, Elena Dementieva and others. But only with the appearance of Maria Sharapova did Russia get the opportunity to be considered a leading tennis power in the world. In the world of women's tennis.
"The Screaming Cinderella"
Sharapova became the world No. 1 and the first Russian woman to achieve such a height. Maria topped the ranking for only a week, then returned the lead to American Lindsay Davenport, but soon the first line will return to the Russian woman. And, probably, will remain under her control for a long time. After all, Sharapova is only 18 years old.
"I became the first racket, and that says it all, – says Maria. – Tennis is an individual sport, I have strived for this result all my life, never thought about who says what about me. This is an extraordinary feeling – to be the first in the world. In addition, I became not just the first, but the first Russian woman, and I am especially proud of this fact.
How was the first day as the best tennis player on the planet? The day before, my dad and I flew to New York, so I got up late. I immediately saw that friends from Europe, whose day had started earlier, had already managed to bombard me with text messages. I've never had so many messages on my phone in my life! I received, it seems, seven bouquets of flowers. The phone rang nonstop. People I hadn't spoken to in a hundred years showed up! To some extent, it helps to feel what I have achieved after all. An amazing day! And in the evening there was a gala dinner.
At the same time, I had a training session as usual, I went to general physical training. Then – an event under the auspices of one of the sponsors: they arranged a meeting for me with teenagers from New York. It was great, I had never participated in such events before. The day turned out to be busy. But I'm not complaining.
What were the first words from my parents? Dad woke me up with the phrase: 'Good morning, champion!' He walked around absolutely happy. Mom called a little later, she is also happy for me, but first of all she asked about my health. I was surprised: 'Mom, everyone congratulates me, but what about you? I'll be offended!' But she doesn't follow tennis very much. For her, I am first of all a little girl, she worries a lot if something hurts me...
I note that the victory at Wimbledon last year still felt special. This is my first major triumph. Especially at my favorite Grand Slam tournament. Especially since it came so unexpectedly. It is unlikely that that moment can be compared to anything else. And the rating... I have been playing for a long time and have always, since childhood, strived to be the best. For example, at 12 years old I became fifth among my peers and said: 'Now I want to play against 14-year-olds.' Then – against 16-year-olds. Then I wanted to become the best among juniors. I am used to constantly raising the bar, competing with the best. And now – all that remains is to hold on and keep positions as long as possible. It is difficult to come up with another stimulus."
Detractors still consider Sharapova half Russian, half American. The fact is that by the age of six, Maria had already managed to change several cities. She was born in the small Siberian town of Nyagan on April 19, 1987. Her parents were escaping from the Chernobyl disaster and left Gomel. At the age of four, Masha took up tennis, and the girl's family already lived in Sochi. They say that Sharapova's first racket was given to her by the well-known Russian tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov, whose homeland is Sochi itself. At the age of six, Maria attended a demonstration tennis lesson with the legendary Martina Navratilova. She advised her parents to send the child to the world-famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Maria's father, who always tried in every way to develop his daughter's tennis talent and, by the way, now travels with her to most tournaments, heeded the advice of the great tennis player and soon moved with Masha to America.
At adult tournaments held under the auspices of the International Tennis Federation, Masha made her debut in 2001 in Sarasota, where, however, she lost in the first round. But a year later in Columbus, even without being in the Women's Tennis Association rankings, she defeated an opponent in the opening match who was then among the top 300 in the world. In the 2002 season, she had three titles won at ITF tournaments (Masha was only 15 years old). And in 2003, Sharapova regularly began to try her hand at major competitions. In January she passed the qualification for the Australian Open, in February she was already in 153rd place on the WTA computer, in May she won another ITF tournament in Sea Island (USA) - and again, now at Roland Garros, she made it through the qualification of the Grand Slam championship.
Then her career developed like a movie. In the same 2003, Sharapova won tournaments in Tokyo and Quebec, in 2004 - in Birmingham, Seoul, Tokyo, and also became the winner of Wimbledon. She won more than four million dollars in prize money and received the nickname "The Screaming Cinderella" at the same time. The fact is that Masha makes screams on the court during shots, which often irritate opponents, but have already become part of the Russian woman's image.
As soon as Sharapova began to contend for a place among the world’s leading tennis players, she was immediately compared to the same Kournikova, who achieved little in tennis but successfully sold her looks. Maria was irritated by comparisons with Anya: “Showing off my assets on magazine covers is not my thing. I am going to play tennis and win on the court.” Although Sharapova does not have to refuse photo shoots and commercials. It is an extra opportunity to earn money – both financially and strategically.
Russian women tennis players treat Masha with great distrust. Especially those who are among the leading players. Whether out of jealousy, envy, or fear of losing their place in the national team if Sharapova joins it. Some openly express their hostility, realizing that while there is still time to voice their opinion, they should do so. In a year, when Masha rules the roost in the tennis world, all reproaches against her will sound like a lapdog yapping at an elephant.
A Patriot at a Distance
Maria considers herself a patriot. She categorically refuses to change her citizenship to American: “I feel Russian, and I have only one citizenship – Russian. So what if I spent half my life in the USA? My tennis career is developing very successfully there. And I dedicate all my victories to my Homeland.”
Russian journalists simply love to talk to the tennis player. Of course, one should not imagine that Masha does nothing but train and in between chirps with mass media representatives. But when it comes to interviews, Russian reporters try to learn as much as possible about what Sharapova knows about her homeland.
“Unfortunately, I visit my homeland so rarely that I almost always spend time with my family,” Maria shares. “When we come to Sochi to see my grandmother, we go to Krasnaya Polyana, to the Orekhovsky waterfalls in the mountains. And, of course, to the tennis courts. I haven’t yet made it to Nyagan, where I was born. But I feel a connection to my hometown. I know its residents root for me and follow my achievements. The mayor of the city congratulates my grandmother on my victories. You know how pleasant that is! And journalists from the local newspaper, with the mayor’s permission, filmed the city from a helicopter especially for me. And they sent me that videotape so I could see how Nyagan has changed over the last 14 years. I, of course, remember little, but I watched with pleasure. And my mother was especially interested.
I am proud of my Homeland and believe that I represent it. Do people bring me woolen socks and grandmother’s jam from Russia? No, what are you saying! I ask everyone who comes to visit to bring black caviar. The more, the better. I can eat it by the spoonful!
My favorite book is “Pippi Longstocking.” Although, as it turns out, it is not Russian, I read it for the first time in my native language – thanks to Mom! Later, when I was about 11 or 12, they bought me a beautiful edition – this time in English.
Get an education in Russia? What matters is not which country you study in, but which field. If the professions I am interested in are taught well in Russia, why not? But if I decide to study fashion, which I dream of now, I will almost certainly go to France. Whether I will ever return for good, I don’t know. It will all depend on what I will be doing. Understand, I live now where I work. And my work is tennis. If Russia had conditions for training, I would live and train there.”
In her free time, Maria prefers to go shopping or to the cinema, likes listening to Russian and foreign music, and also reading books in Russian and English. The Russian woman categorically refuses to comment on her personal life. At one of the numerous press conferences, a British journalist pestered her and made her answer a direct question: whom would she prefer – Swiss Roger Federer or American Andy Roddick, if she had such a choice. Sharapova laughed in response and answered: “Actually, I think they both have girlfriends.”
“Sensation from Russia”
A year ago, the foreign press had already begun to persistently assert the birth of a new superstar in women’s tennis. It is enough to quote some British newspapers after Sharapova’s victory at Wimbledon 2004.
“A star was born. Maria Sharapova, a 17-year-old Russian tennis player who emits piercing shrieks on the court like a small jet engine and possesses the instincts of a fighter pilot, defeated Serena Williams herself. Her amazing reaction was evident right after the match ended, when she rushed into the stands to embrace her father Yuri, then took his mobile phone to call her mother in Florida. For this victory, Sharapova received a cheque for £560,500, but in the future her income could be many times higher. Experts agree that over the course of her career, Maria’s income from sponsorship contracts could amount to up to £50 million” (Sunday Times).
“Maria is the queen of Wimbledon 2004, the whole world is at her feet. At 17, this Russian girl is a true superstar. Just as the German Boris Becker and the Brazilian Pelé were, and as the Englishman Wayne Rooney is now” (Independent).
“Sharapova is a 17-year-old tennis sensation from Russia, simply born for glory and prosperity. She has a very rare combination: youth, beauty, charisma and sporting genius” (Sunday Telegraph).
It should be noted that the predictions of British experts are coming true with incredible speed. In early August of this year, Maria bought a house in Manatee County for $2.69 million. The Russian woman will continue to live in the same area as before, but with much greater comfort. Previously, Masha had a modest villa with two bedrooms, but now she has a luxurious pink mansion. It is located near the IMG Academy in Bradenton, where the star constantly trains.
"It's great that Maria will live in this area," Greg Brenich, head of IMG Academies, said. "She is a wonderful person, and we are glad that she will be able to continue training at the academy." According to him, many athletes who have contracts with IMG decide to buy housing not far from the training site, so Sharapova will live in a sort of sports neighborhood.
The new house of the world's strongest tennis player has four bedrooms, a three-car garage, a gym, and an elevator to the second floor. The house is located on a plot of 17,000 square feet, with windows overlooking Millar Beach and Sleepy Lagoon. Nearby are the homes of Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, and Thomas Haas. And Sharapova herself has managed to present a new collection of her perfume. For an 18-year-old girl, that's very good.