TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 26th of May 2014. M. Sharapova d. K. Pervak 6-1, 6-2. An interview with Maria Sharapova
Q. I would like to hear your feelings about the match. It was like pretty quick, but I would like to know how you felt on court and everything, please.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, first matches at Grand Slams are always tough, no matter how prepared you are, no matter how many matches you’ve played.
There is always a bit more tension in that type of Grand Slam atmosphere. It’s certainly more special, especially when you walk out on court. Considering all that, I thought I played a solid match, did the things I had to do. Yeah, it’s only the beginning right now.
Q. You had many free points on your serve today. I think after your first surgery you had to change your motion on the serve. Did you change anything after this injury last year?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: A few things. You know, once Sven got on board we worked on a few things just to modify, nothing drastic, but a little thing here and there.
Q. When you win, how many of them do you allow yourself to eat? And when you lose do you get to eat more as a consolation prize or is it the other way, do you punish yourself and have a bit less?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I will probably have to answer that question once the tournament is over (laughter). It depends how fresh they are.
I don’t know. I usually allow myself a couple here and there, but on tougher occasions I allow myself more than usual. Yeah.
Q. Looking for an eventual quarterfinals match against Serena, have you given any thoughts about I know your next match is your only concern, but…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Then why do you ask the question?
Q. Because it will be a really blockbuster match. Well, have you given any thoughts about that match?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It’s tough to think about that match down the line where you have to compete in three matches before that, you know, three more.
Obviously it’s a match that many people always look forward to when we play against each other.
But in many ways, it doesn’t matter if it’s fourth round or the quarterfinal, semis, final. At a certain point, I mean, there is only one champion at a tournament. So it’s not really about when you face somebody. It’s about who comes through. Right now it’s not our concern, because the next match I’m playing against Pironkova.
Q. You have been around long enough through ups and downs and injuries. So when you see someone like Venus still out there competing, considering her condition, is that something that you look to for inspiration or bewilderment? She’s certainly earned the right to retire.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, of course, it’s very inspirational, and to have the desire and the fight to get up in the morning to want to compete and do this and continue doing it, knowing how tough it is and to keep that level over and over again.
But on the other hand, she’s been so successful, you know, and that feeling of winning the big titles is so special. And I’m sure she’s not just here to walk around the grounds. I’m sure she wants that feeling back, because there is really nothing like it.
But, yeah, it’s definitely inspirational.
Q. Going back a couple of months, what was it like being one of the final torch bearers at the opening ceremonies? What do you think the image of Sochi was after the Olympics?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, personally, it’s one of the biggest honors I received in I wouldn’t say career, but in what I have done. I never expected to be part of the opening ceremonies. You know, I was one of the ambassadors that helped bring the Olympics there, but I, at that point, it was a very unrealistic goal.
I came to the United States when I was almost seven years old, and I’d have to spell the word Sochi to everybody. I’d have to tell them where it was, nobody knew where it was on a map.
To think when I had arrived there and we were flying over the stadiums and to see that, you know, to see the attention from all the world in this specific place was so special to me, because all my childhood memories were formed there.
I actually had no idea what I was going to be doing at the ceremony until the rehearsals, and when they took me down to the stadium and opened up the ramp and they gave me the torch and I had to run up through the fumes, I thought I was dreaming, you know. It was one of those just unique, unique moments.
Q. You have had a lot of incredible comebacks and triumphs, but it is your work on clay, does that give you some of the most pride you have in your career?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think it was one of the like biggest individual goals I had, because I realized that I needed to do something about it, and I think I just took it upon myself.
There wasn’t a specific moment, but it was really a combination of, you know, what these moments in the gym or these moments on the court, you know, it’s almost like getting that fear away from, you know, Okay, you can slide and you can get back in the court. You don’t need to just hang around by the post on the side, it’s okay to get back on the court and play your game again.
So I think that learning process, I took that really upon myself.
