Sharapova survives scare and hits out at French Open organisers
29th May 2006
Fourth seed Maria Sharapova has managed to reach the second round at Roland Garros despite an aggravated right ankle injury.
Sharapova’s start was a good one, and she soon took the set with 6-2 and took the lead in the second set with a break, but then Mashona Washington started to play miraculously and won that second set 7-5.
In the third set Washington soon took the lead, and at 5-2 she had a match point, which she was unable to cash in. Sharapova began fighting for all she was worth, and that worked, she survived two more match points and eventually took the match, winning the third set and taking the match 6-2, 5-7,7-5.
Sharapova, however, accused the French Open of acting in their own best interests by having her play on Sunday to boost ticket sales and denying her a reschedule due to an injury sustained during her practice last week.
“I put in the request Thursday, and after the MRI (on Friday), I called them and I asked them if I could play later,” Sharapova said in her post-match interview.
“The answer was, ‘you’re playing Sunday fourth match’.
“It doesn’t make you feel great when you know that the French Federation, all they’re thinking about is selling tickets, making money and about their players. I can’t be too happy about that.”
“I was calling British Airways in the third set,” joked Sharapova.
“(From 5-2) I just blocked it (the pain) out somehow and started moving better, making her hit an extra ball. She got a little bit tight at 5-all, and then I served it out, and hit a few good shots, and there’s the match.”
“But, I didn’t play today to sell tickets or make the French Federation happy, I’m here to hold that trophy, and I’m going to do everything that’s possible to win, if I can.”
“If I feel like my ankle is not great, and I have to stop, I have to stop. I’m 19 years old. I’m gonna play these slams for many more years.”
Although many expected her to pull out due to the injuries she has been having in favor of Wimbledon, she said the following, “it’s a tough decision because Wimbledon is probably, not probably, it is more important than this one.”
“Every tournament that I play, I want to win. It’s just that Wimbledon means a lot more to me than any other tournament.”
Not only was this match a real thriller, it also had a productive side, as Sharapova said she wanted to make some investments after two pigeons flew on the court when Washington had her first match point.
“They’re my best friends,” Maria Sharapova said. “I’m actually thinking of buying a few in my house.”
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