Category: Tennis

Maria Sharapova Drops Curtains on a Glittering, Controversial Career

Russia’s Maria Sharapova just called curtains on her career last month after being the highest-paid sportswoman of the world for 11 years on the trot and after winning 5 grand slams. There are not many sports stars with careers as controversial and as glittering as Sharapova’s.

Sharapova, born in Siberia and aged 32, completed her rags to stardom story when she defeated Serena Williams in 2004. Aged just 17 back then, Sharapova was touted as the next big thing in Tennis.

“I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis — I’m saying goodbye. Looking back now, I realize that tennis has been my mountain. My path has been filled with valleys and detours, but the views from its peak were incredible. After 28 years and five grand slam titles, though, I’m ready to scale another mountain, to compete on a different type of terrain,” said Sharapova while announcing her retirement.

Shamil Tarpischev, President of the Russian Tennis Federation, also commented on her retirement and said, “It’s a shame, of course, because Maria was a role model for everyone. Many girls compared themselves to her. She was number one for the popularization of Russian tennis. Her image was huge.”

Sharapova’s otherwise illustrious career took a turn for the dark when she was defeated for the 18th time by Serena Williams in 2016. Other than the defeat, reports of her failing an anti-doping test took the world of Tennis by storm. She was banned for a couple of years by the ITF and went from being the most loved sportswomen to having all her sponsorships taken away from her.

Sharapova later claimed that she didn’t realize the meldonium she had taken for health issues was included in the list of banned substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

While her confectionary company, named Sugarpova, will keep her busy, Sharapova will surely miss the thrill of competition.

“In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life, ” Sharapova said.

“I’ll miss it every day; I’ll miss the training and my daily routine.”

 

YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM1xZPaAJR8

Tennis Legend Margaret Court Hits Out at Trans Athletes in Controversial Sermon

Call her black sheep or Tennis’s forgotten Wonder Woman, Margaret Court, isn’t really doing her legacy any justice with her words. The Australian star, who has a record 24 Grand Slam titles, recently delivered an anti-LGBT sermon at her church in Perth. The 77-year-old tennis star, who is already in line to be honored for her achievements in the Australian Open next month, has recently attracted controversy yet again by hitting out at transgender athletes and saying that LGBT teachings come straight from the devil. She was issuing a sermon on Trans athletes competing within male and female sports. Court said, “You know with that LGBT, they’ll wish they never put the T on the end of it because, particularly in women’s sports, they’re going to have so many problems.”

Court also blasted children as little as 7 for changing their genders at a very young age. Court added, “It’s so wrong at that age because a lot of things are planted in this thought realm and they start to question, ‘what am I? You know, even that LGBT in the schools, it’s of the devil, it’s not of God…”

Court is no stranger to making incendiary comments that hurt the emotions and feelings of millions residing in Australia and across the world. Back in 2017, she went public with her hate and opposition of gay marriages. Gay marriages were legalized in Australia during the year 2017, and Court was quick to say just how much she hated the concept. Court later cleared that she didn’t hate gay people, but just thought that this was a choice they could back out of.

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwUmwupUPH0Trans athletes

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic Slam Canada for Controversial Davis Cup Walkover

Tennis pros Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have voiced their concern over Canada’s decision to hand America a walk over in the Davis Cup final.

The Canadians, who had already won the group stage match against America, said that their players weren’t fit to play against the Americans in the dead rubber doubles final. The Americans were awarded the match by 6-0, 6-0, which has ruffled quite a few feathers in the international professional men circuit.

Andy Murray from Great Britain voiced his discontent first and mentioned that this wasn’t good. “I think that when we spoke in here yesterday, I was saying I felt like one of the positive things to the way the group stages work is that all of the matches are live, there aren’t any dead rubbers. And, I believe they also would have had two days off as well after that so I think they should have played the tie,” said Murray.

World No.2 Novak Djokovic also mentioned that he heard the news recently and didn’t like it personally. “I personally don’t like that. I mean, that shouldn’t be allowed, to be honest. I understand that Canada is through already, they won both of their ties. Maybe some of the players like Felix, I think he’s injured, and they wanted to rest their players for the quarterfinals and onwards. But I just feel it’s not fair that the USA gets 6-0 6-0 because they are going actually head-to-head now against Italy. But I also understand it wouldn’t be fair if you just don’t give a point, you know, because USA was ready to play doubles. So I don’t know. But I think everyone should be obliged to come out and play, at least play,” said the world number 2.

A statement by the ITF clarified that USA were given the win because three players from the Canadian team were declared unfit by an independent doctor. The lack of professionalism, however, hasn’t gone down well with the pros of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7reJ-j-yZ4v

Tennis Icon Margaret Court Brews More Controversy in Australia

It is not often that we get the same answer for two questions with completely different contexts. But, if we were to ask readers the following questions, we will get the same answers:

Who is the Queen of Tennis with the most single grand slam titles?

Who is the Queen of Controversy amongst retired players?

Tennis icon Margaret Court is the name that pops up here. Court, who hails from Australia, won 24 Grand Slams in her career, which is the most amongst both men and women. Court has had quite a controversial year or two after she first engulfed news with her ancient views on same sex marriage. Gay marriage was legalized within Australia back in 2017, but Court disagreed with the plebiscite, stating that the Bible forbids all such marriages, which is why we should stay safe.

The 77 year old was soon hounded by fans all over Australia, who are still demanding that the court in Melbourne Park, named after her, be changed.

Now, Margaret Court has questioned the equality of Tennis Australia by calling out the administration for not showing her the same level of respect that they showed to Rod Laver while celebrating his 50th Grand Slam anniversary recently. Court, who won all 4 Grand Slam titles for the year 1970, believes that she should be honored in a similar manner as well.

“I think Tennis Australia should sit and talk with me,” Court said while speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. “They have never phoned me. Nobody has spoken to me directly about it. I think they would rather not confront it.”

“They brought Rod in from America. If they think I’m just going to turn up, I don’t think that is right. I think I should be invited. I would hope they would pay my way to come like they paid for his, and honor me. If they are not going to do that, I don’t really want to come,” she further added.

When asked about how her words about gay marriages might have impacted her legacy, Court asserted that the both had no correlation. Court maintained that her believes on homosexuals should not be allowed to tarnish or damage her legacy.

“I don’t feel any of that should be brought into my tennis career,” Court mentioned. “It was a different phase of my life from where I am now and if we are not big enough as a nation and a game to face those challenges there is something wrong.”

Many newsreader and anchors have weighed in on this situation and have clarified their perspective.

Tom Steinfort, the newsreader on Channel 9 started the discussion on this topic during his early morning show. “If they (TA) want to lead here, no one has handled this issue better than Peter V’landys when he was asked about Israel Folau the other day,” Steinfort mentioned. “He said on that the game is inclusive, and Israel’s comments aren’t inclusive.”

Why Nick Kyrgios Is the Poster Boy Tennis Needs

It is August 3rd, and the crowd in Washington is host to an intense match between Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas. What starts peacefully soon turns into another one of Nick Kyrgios’s meltdown, as he smashes his racket on the ground twice and grunts at the unfavorable attitude of the crowd. 

Kyrgios was serving at 2-1 when the crowd rattled him with taunts. Kyrgios, who is known to be on his heels in the court, lost all patience and furiously slammed his racket on the court while hurling abuse. 

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Earlier in the tournament, playing against Slovak Norbert Gombos, Krygios went to a female in the court and asked her, “Where do you want me to go with this serve?” 

The suggestion did work for Kyrgios as he went on to get an ace on that particular serve. Kyrgios thanked his supporter at the end of the match and went on to embrace her. He then went on to mention this in his after match press conference, “I’m just super happy that all the work I’m doing off the court is translating onto the court. Four days in a row, four matches competing at my highest level; I’m pretty happy with in honestly. The crowd’s been amazing. I love playing night matches here. The crowd’s hanging around for late night matches and getting into it, and I’m just trying to give them fun tennis to watch, and also trying to get some wins as well.”

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Kyrgios is certainly new and unique to the sport of tennis. We have seen many stars pass around, but it is good to have someone bring back that swagger that was absent from the courts for a long time. 

Britain’s Andy Murray recently mentioned why Nick Kyrgios is necessary and perfect for the sport. “When he’s mentally engaged in the matches, he’s brilliant for tennis because he has an exciting game, a big personality and he’s different,” mentioned Murray while speaking to the official ATP website.

“His match with Rafa [Nadal] at Wimbledon was one of the best matches of the tournament. That’s really good for tennis. As someone who knows him well, I like him. I just want to see him do that all of the time,” added Murray. 

Murray however was quick to mention that there was a fine line between being competitive and being offensive towards others, and that all players should be looking to follow it. 

“Everyone matures at different ages. Some people are ready when they are 18, 19 to deal with what comes with being a top athlete and some people aren’t ready and it takes them a bit of time. I’m hoping that with time Nick will learn and be better for it. When he’s engaged in tennis and wants to play he’s brilliant for the game. And when he isn’t giving his best effort and misbehaving, that’s not what people want to see. He needs to find that balance.”

Kyrgios has himself mentioned that he has come a long way during the past few months, and has more command on his anger than before. 

In a recent conference, Kyrgios said: “It’s amazing. Where I was six months ago, some of the things I was doing, to respond like this having incredible support, it’s amazing. I’ve proved to myself and a lot of people that have backed me that I still have it. It’s been one of the best weeks of my life from a tennis perspective.”

While there is still uncertainty over the path Kyrgios’s career takes in the future, what we do know is that he is destined to achieve a lot more for himself and for the sport.