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REPORT: Maria Sharapova ‘Expecting’ 20-Year Deal With Nike To End

After a turbulent season that was ended by injury, the Russian is reportedly on the verge of losing one of her biggest sponsors.

Published

1 year ago

21/10/2018

Adam Addicott

Former world No.1 Maria Sharapova has admitted that her long-term deal with Nike is set to end later this year, according to a report by The Sun Newspaper.

It has been claimed by the British tabloid that Sharapova has told close friends that she believes the sporting brand will not renew her contract when it expires. Sharapova has been signed with the company since the age of 11 and the deal is estimated to be worth $10 million a year.

Nike has been loyal supporters of Sharapova throughout her entire career. During her 15-month doping suspension after testing positive for meldonium, the company chose to stand by the Russian. Sharapova has insisted that she never deliberately took the substance to enhance her performance. Meldonium was added to the list of prohibited substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency at the start of 2016. During her suspension, she was also able to maintain ties with Porsche, Evian, HEAD and NetJets.

The most recent deal Sharapova struck with Nike was back in 2010. An eight-year contract reportedly worth $70 million with the 31-year-old also receiving a cut from the sales of her own branded clothes.

According to findings by American financial news website The Street, Sharapova’s business net worth has been valued as high as $195 million. Although this figure is disputed by some sources. In 2016 Forbes magazine ranked her 88th in the list of the highest paid athletes in the world. Since then, she has fallen outside the top 100.

Once dubbed as the most marketable female athlete in the world, Sharapova’s has been yet to regain her best form since returning for her doping ban. Winning just one title at the 2017 Tianjin Open in China. Within that time period she has defeated three top 10 players (Jelena Ostapenko twice, Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova), but is yet to break back into the world’s top 20.

Sharapova has ended her 2018 season early due to a shoulder injury. Winning 20 out of 31 matches played.

There has been no comment from Sharapova’s team in regards to the speculation over the future of her Nike deal.

UPDATE: 20:00 GMT

Sharapova’s agent Max Eisenbud has now dismissed the claims made by The Sun newspaper, according to website tennis.life. In a statement he has claimed that Sharapova has a ‘lifetime’ deal with Nike.

“It’s just incredible how a publication can make up lies and not be held accountable. Even worse is how other publications run with the story as if it is fact. It’s a huge issue,” Eisenbud said.

Latest news

Maria Sharapova will miss the Olympic Games in Tokyo

Published

9 hours ago

09/12/2019

sampaolo

Maria Sharapova is set to miss the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, as she has committed to play the World Team Tennis at Orange County Breakers in the United States from 28 to 29 July during the same week as the Tokyo event.

“I am excited to be back with the Breakers again. The competition in World Tennis is always strong and I am looking forward to playing in team format again”, said Sharapova.

Before the US Open 2019 the five-time Grand Slam champion appointed new coach Riccardo Piatti in her team.

Sharapova has announced that she will be playing in several exhibition matches like the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi, the Hawaii Open and the Kooyong Classic before the Australian Open.

Latest news

Stan Wawrinka, Daniel Medvedev, Fabio Fognini and Gael Monfils set to highlight the Diryah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia

Published

9 hours ago

09/12/2019

sampaolo

Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils, Danil Medvedev and Fabio Fognini are set to take part in the Diryah Tennis Cup, the first ever professional tennis tournament, which takes place from 12 to 14 December 2020.

Diriyah is a UNESCO World Tennis Heritage Site will host a hard-court tournament at the Diryah Arena, where the boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Antony Ruiz took place last weekend.

The exhibition tournament will feature Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils, Danil Medvedev, Fabio Fognini, David Goffin, Lucas Pouille, John Isner and this year’s Australian Open semifinalist Lucas Pouille.

Medvedev is the highest ranked player in the Saudi Arabia tournament. The Russian player won four titles in Sofia, Montreal and St. Petersburg and Shanghai and reached the final at the US Open finishing runner-up to Rafael Nadal.

“Saudi Arabia will be a big part of my preparation for the new season. The heat and the conditions will be similar to Australia. It will be a great test for us. It’s in our preseason, so we will want to get that match time in to prepare for the new season. The fans should expect us to fight hard like in any tournament. It will be competitive and hopefully they will be lots of fans coming to support us there. Hopefully I can play some great tennis, help the country raise awareness of the sport and inspire people to play. Looking at the players confirmed it’s a really great field. I have heard a lot of good things about Saudi Arabia. I am excited to promote tennis there especially as it’s the first tournament”, said Medvedev.

Wawrinka won three Grand Slam tournaments at the 2014 Australian Open, at 2015 Roland Garros and at the 2016 US Open. This year the Swiss player finished runner-up to Gael Monfils in Rotterdam and to Andy Murray in Antwerp. Wawrinka reached the French Open quarter final. He upset Novak Djokovic in the US Open fourth round before losing to eventual finalist Danil Medvedev. He ended the season ranked world number 16.

ATP

Rival Backs Dominic Thiem To Win Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award

Only two players have won the award since 2004.

Published

14 hours ago

09/12/2019

Adam Addicott

For the past 15 years only two players have managed to get their hands on the prestigious Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, but one player thinks there could be a brand new winner this year.

Diego Schwartzman has lent his support behind world No.4 Dominic Thiem. The award recognizes those who have conducted the highest level of professionalism and integrity on the ATP Tour throughout the season. Established in 1977, Roger Federer has won the honour in 13 out of the past 15 years. The only other player to triumph during that period was Rafael Nadal, who won it in 2010 and 2018.

“I think Thiem can win it, he showed throughout the year a competitiveness and a respect with everyone that was spectacular,” Schwartzman told ole.com. “On top of that he is having great years of his career and this season was even better for the achievements he had.’
“He has a good chance of winning it.” He added.

Schwartzman, who reached the quarter-finals of the US Open earlier this year, has also been shortlisted for the award. Along with regular nominees Federer and Nadal. Only once has an Argentinian player won the title, which was José Luis Clerc back in 1981. At that time it was known as the ATP Sportsmanship award before getting renamed in 1996.

“I learned first (of getting nominated) through social networks rather than the official designation that the ATP sends you by mail.” The 27-year-old revealed.
“It is more spectacular than anything for the players I have next to me. It is a very important prize that recognizes a little what you do off the court, not only hitting the ball.”

Whilst he is dreaming of winning the honour himself, Schwartzman is just happy that he has been nominated.

“If I won this award, it would be spectacular. Now I am on that payroll that is very good and represents the values that I try to maintain on a day-to-day basis and that (my coaching teams over the years) have taught me. It is very nice to be recognized for that. “ He concluded.

The four nominees for the Stefan Edberg Award was shortlisted by the ATP. However, it will be the players who will decide the winner. The result will be revealed later this month.