The Desire To Be The Best
There was no love lost between Sharapova and Myskina. Both were looking to become “The New Russian”, the best player from the country, and neither was interested in being Anna (Kournikova) II. Lansdorp fueled these feelings. He would tease Myskina as she was doing drills saying that she was awful (only the actual word was an expletive). Moments later, he would then tilt the board and comment that now her shot making and anticipation were superb…And he did it at the top of his voice so that Sharapova could hear everything that was being said.
June 8, 2016 is another bookmark date in the Sharapova story. That is when the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspended her for two years, a penalty that later in the year was reduced to 15 months. The rush to judgement was shameful. She was verbally torn to pieces by players as well as some members of the press.
Having never been “one of the girls”, the reaction by some opponents to her taking Meldonium, which had gone from an approved supplement to a prohibited drug, was vicious. One player opinionated that “everyone was saying she’s a cheater… Just before she returned to competition, another tour standout remarked “that everyone doping” should start from zero…” and not be given wild cards into tournaments.
For whatever reason, a number of points that could have offered clarity were overlooked . Sharapova had been taking the drug for ten years to deal with the foibles of her body, long before it had been banned. Her IMG agent Max Eisenbud, who was responsible for filing for the necessary waiver, was going through a divorce and he neglected to complete the process. Even more revealing was the fact that at the same time, several highly ranked players had “curious” medical use waivers. One of the “Say What..?” approvals was for Oxycontin, an addictive pain reliever that is still a world scourge. If there was going to be finger pointing, why didn’t a more thorough investigation of player drug use take place?
Sharapova defeated Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-3 in her return to competition at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany in late April 2017. But, in actuality, her career had been brought to a close…
Her singles record since Stuttgart, three years ago, was 36 wins and 22 loses. The high point was being the 2017 Tianjin Open champion. But more meaningful was that during this period, assorted shoulder, forearm and thigh issues forced her to withdraw from 17 events and retire during two others.
Spending time around Sharapova didn’t make me an “insider.” It may have resulted in casual familiarity, but going beyond that would be a gross exaggeration.
Still, based on lengthy observation, it is clear that caring is a strong Sharapova character trait. She has a special place in her heart for certain people.
The fall of 2008 was a case in point. She was training in Arizona with Joyce when he suffered a calf injury. The resulting blood clot in his left leg put him in the hospital in serious condition. Once he recovered sufficiently, he returned to his home in Southern California to convalesce. Off the radar, Sharapova visited him regularly. Few people are aware of the concern she evidenced or the encouragement she offered to get him to follow his doctor’s orders before trying to return to the court.
In the end, she has made an impact across life’s board. Not only was she a remarkable athlete, she was a glamorous trend setter. Her savvy as a businesswoman extends beyond her Sugarpova candy. She is the “Real Deal”. West Side Story said it long ago, “Maria, say it loud and there’s music playing.”
Thanks Maria Sharapova, the melody will linger on.
