Maria Sharapova She was one of the best players of her time: she became No. 1 in the world, won at least one title in each of the Grand Slams, won the WTA Masters Finals and even won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in London 2012. Although still young, in February 2020, amid a string of injuries and a long suspension for having tested positive for an anti-doping control, he decided to hang up his racket and announce his retirement. However, her legacy exceeded what happened within a court since she became one of the great exponents of advertising disruption in the world of tennis players. So much so that she was considered the top-earning female athlete for 11 consecutive years. Now, away from tennis, she gave an interview to the site WWD to talk about the case of Naomi Osaka, her life as a businesswoman, the new generations, who broke into the US Open and the abuse of many people on social media.
At 34, Sharapova traded in the racket and balls for her excursions to the Venice Film Festival, music at London’s Royal Albert Hall, or visits to Scottish castles. “I found myself wanting to experiment and exploit the world from a different perspective. Before, I would travel to a city and only concentrate on the sporting aspect. In fact, I would think about the tournament, the recovery and, when I lost, packing everything. My things and go to the next place. So I didn’t have much time to visit the places and understand the true meaning of how things were built, “he said. Indeed, you can combine your business task (you have business agreements with major international firms, in addition to your company Sugarpova and Squared Circles) with tourism and enjoyment.
YOUR LOOK ON THE CASE OF NAOMI OSAKA
The Japanese opened up to the world in the last edition of Roland Garros, when she confessed that she was suffering from anxiety attacks when speaking to the press and that it was best to get away from the circuit for a few weeks. “We must all support athletes who are having a difficult time in their careers. Naomi is an incredible tennis player and a beautiful human being, who still has a lot ahead of her. You have to respect the decision you made at a vulnerable moment. Honestly, not many know what goes on behind the scenes or how the players feel because you only see what happens on the court. That is why the more support we can give them, the better they will be and the better they will play, “said the Russian.
Anyway, Sharapova said that an athlete must assume with the agreed commitments. “On difficult days one has to appear at press conferences, remain professional and talk about the game. It is about establishing certain rules because each individual is different and what is sensitive for one may not be for someone else,” he said. . In fact, he referred to how controversial social media is. On the one hand, they allow you to connect with their followers, while on the other, it is possible to receive many abusive messages when one loses a game. “Now they are used more than when I started to appear. It is something new that athletes have to know how to handle. In my case, I enjoy showing my experiences to the fans because they may know something more about me, but you have to set certain limits with regarding the amount of time you dedicate to it, “he completed the message.
THE NEW GENERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HITTING HARD
The US Open marked a break. Although it was estimated that the organization could suffer the important absences of Federer, Nadal, Thiem or the Williams sisters, other young players appeared (Leylah Fernandez, Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz) to occupy that empty space with a great tennis level, which managed to captivate the new audiences. “There has been a balance between men and women. Competitive matches were seen and it is a good sign for the future,” he said.
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