Abu Dhabi表演賽獲勝 - 瑪麗亞·莎拉波娃 Sharapova

在Abu Dhabi的表演賽直落二打敗Ajla Tomljanovic。
高光﹕ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZk8Y8s_c44

莎娃說她對網球事業還是充滿熱火！
這篇提到她接下來會到夏威夷打表演賽，
之後會到澳網打一項熱身賽(但還没說哪個比賽)再參加澳網，
另外確定不打奧運。

Sharapova still has 'fire and motivation' despite 2019 misery

Abu Dhabi (AFP) - Maria Sharapova insisted Thursday that she still has the
"internal fire and motivation" to compete professionally, despite the
lingering shoulder problem that kept her out of action for long stretches
this season.

The former world number one was only able to play in eight events in 2019,
contesting just 15 matches in total.

The Russian five-time major champion made her first on-court appearance since
her US Open first round exit in August in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi on
Thursday, where she fought back from a break down in each set to defeat
Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 7-5.

"Any chance that I get to come out and play competitively is a really good
day because I just haven't played a lot," Sharapova told reporters at the
Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

"Definitely I'm coming out of this match happy that I was out there again and
it can only get better from here."

While she wouldn't reveal too many details about the state of her shoulder
injury, she did say she "felt fine" after her clash with Tomljanovic, while
keeping her expectations in check having been sidelined for nearly four
months.

Sharapova plans on travelling Down Under for next month's Australian Open but
confirmed she will not be playing the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

With many question marks still surrounding her form and her shoulder, she's
unsure what her 2020 calendar will look like.

"I think that will be one of the biggest challenges for the new year, it's to
have a set schedule," said the 32-year-old.

"I definitely look forward to going to Australia and seeing how things go,
see how the body holds up there.

- 'In awe of Nadal' -

"It's tough to tell, I've barely played any events last year. The start and
stopping was one of the most challenging parts of the year as well, just when
you think I got going a little bit I had to tone it down and stop and then
just keep training. Although it seems I haven't played actually I've been
working a lot."

The US-based Russian will fly home for Christmas, then compete in a couple of
exhibition matches in Hawaii, before heading to Australia where she plans on
playing a warm-up event ahead of the opening Grand Slam of the season in
Melbourne.

Asked how she's been able to maintain her spirits during her lengthy struggle
with injuries, Sharapova added: "I really love what I do. I think you see it
when I am on the court, when I do have the chance to compete, I really enjoy
being there. I really have a great purpose for what I do.

"I have goals and dreams for life after tennis, but I still have that
internal fire and motivation. Really, all on my mind when I wake up is
getting into my sports gear and going out and working to be a better tennis
player."

Now down at 131 in the world rankings, Sharapova insists she hasn't
considered retirement from the sport just yet, and realises injuries are part
of every athlete's life.

She said she takes inspiration from Rafael Nadal, who has had his fair share
of injuries himself.

"I'm in awe of his whole career. I think a lot of it is being really smart
strategically about his schedule.

"From his point of view, he likes a lot of matches to feel confident, but you
need to be healthy in order to do that, so you have to make the right
decisions and that's certainly something that I can learn from him," she said
of the Spanish world number one and 19-time major winner who is also
competing at the UAE tournament.

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