Sharapova puts world domination bid on hold - 俄網 Tennis

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Sharapova puts world domination bid on hold
Wed Nov 9, 2005 9:31 PM GMT

By Matthew Cronin

LOS ANGELES, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Teenager Maria Sharapova has put her
plans for world domination on ice, the Russian saying she is not yet
strong enough to carry if off.

The 18-year-old briefly reached world number one this year, but she
failed to add to her sole grand slam title achieved last year at
Wimbledon.

"I don't think I'm ready for it now," Sharapova told Reuters at the
WTA Championships on Wednesday.

"I think at some point I may be able to dominate, but honesty, I don't
think I'm physically there yet and I don't want to go out there and
say I am, when I'm really not."

Sharapova, now ranked three, said she would like to equal the feats
of seven-time grand slam champion Serena Williams or the five of
Martina Hingis, although she described herself as still a work in
progress.

"I grew a few centimeters this year and I'm still getting used to
my height," said 6-foot-2-inch Sharapova, who stunned the tennis world
by beating Serena in the 2004 Wimbledon final.

"But in the future, dominating is something I would like, but I'm
still not where I need to be physically or with my game."

Sharapova earned a three-set victory over Patty Schynder on Monday
in the elite-eight WTA Championships, but she will not grab the
number one ranking even if she wins the tournament.

Current number one Lindsay Davenport and number two Kim Clijsters
are battling it out for the year-end honour.

Although she failed to win one of the game's big four this year,
falling in semi-finals to eventual champions Serena Williams in
Australia, Venus Williams at Wimbledon and Clijsters at the U.S.
Open, she did win three titles.

"There were some matches this year where I lost a little
concentration and focus and thought I played some stupid points,"
Sharapova said.

"But it's about being in those situations and learning from
them and although I've played a lot of matches already in my
life, I'm still pretty young and have a lot to learn. But I am
learning and I think you can see that."

The Florida-based Russian's statistics are impressive, going
52-11 during the season, and had it not been for a right pectoral
muscle injury that has dogged her since July, she may still be in
the hunt for number one.

"There are times when I do get frustrated, but I don't let the
frustrations take over me," she said.

"I try to be positive. There have been a lot of ups and downs
this year, especially with the injuries where it's been one
thing after another.

"But I've always continued to be tough, because all of my life
I've fought for everything that I've had."

After winning Wimbledon in 2004, the attractive blonde cashed
in on her success off the court and now earns an estimated $19
million a year, the vast majority of that in off court earnings.

But the Siberian-born Sharapova --- who went to the U.S. at the
age of eight with her father and coach Yuri -- says she is keeping
her feet firmly on the ground.

She said the other day while walking down Beverly Hills' swank
Rodeo drive, she felt completely out of place.

"That's not where I come from," she said. "I know I'm popular and
I know people recognise me, but I don't relate to that lifestyle.

"I walk around there and shop, but I don't feel like this is me.
That's not where I come from."


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