MARIA SHARAPOVA

Russian Teen Tennis Queen Maria Sharapova attacked vigorously on those who say she has never played Fed Cup because she does not want to play for Russia.

Maria Sharapova has never represented her country in a team event, a fact which has drawn increasing criticism on her. Further there are speculations that she planned to represent the US in Federation Cup.

Denying it all, Maria Sharapova said, “There are so many rumours about me which are untrue and that’s one of them,” further she said.”It’s quite untrue that I don’t want to play for Russia. I have a Russian heart.”

For past decade Maria Sharapova has lived in Florida, which lead to rumours she might become a naturalised American.

Maria Sharapova pointed out “I play for my country. When you see the draw at a tournament you see my country, Russia, next to my name.”

“Unfortunately in my career I don’t get as much time to spend there as I would like, but when I go that’s where I feel like I belong. It’s the way of life and the culture,” Maria Sharapova explained.

For Maria Sharapova, an opportunity could come in mid-April when Russia is due to play Belgium in a first-round tie.

Maria Sharapova is Dubai, for the $US1million ($1.3m) Dubai Women Tennis Open.

Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport had a practice session on a court built on the world’s first indoor alpine ski slopes, before the tournament.

The resort in a shopping centre, which spreads to 22,500 square meters - the size of three football fields and real snow covers all year round and fresh layers are created daily to ensure perfect conditions.

Former World number 1 Maria Sharapova was prevented by Belgian Henin-Hardenne from reaching the final of Australian Open. It is Sharapova’s second consecutive failiure at Semi-Final here.

All started well for Maria Sharapova, as she made the most of her forehand for winners. Though they broke each other in the seventh and eight games, Maria Sharapova secured the first set 6- 4 in 50 minutes.

In the second set, Henin-Hardenne lifted a gear and began to push the ball around. The incredible placement on serve and on her ground strokes left Maria Sharapova scurrying for cheeky drop shots or caught mid-court with backhand passing shots and lost the second set 1-6.

Alerted Maria Sharapova gave tough resistence to the 2004 champion. Henin-Hardenne dropped serve when her final approach shot narrowly clipped the top of the net, and Sharapova improved from 2-4 to 4-4. But Henin-Hardenne brought up two match points with a blistering backhand to finish the match 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.

Hot favorite Maria Sharapova beat compatriot Nadia Petrova 7-6 (8/6) 6-4 in the Quarter-finals of Australian Open 2006.

Fourth seeded Maria Sharapova climbed up twice in the first set. Nadia
was 5‑4 serving for the set, 6‑5 serving for the set and 6‑4 in the tiebreaker. However indomitable Maria won the breaker 8-6 to clinch the first set 7-6 (8-6).

The second set was a service break throughout and Maria Sharapova was 0-40 in the 10th game. Thanks to Nadia’s errors, Maria rattled down five straight points to win the match.

Maria Sharapova won all the three straight Grand Slam quarter-final meet between her and Nadia.

For Maria Sharapova, “it was definitely not easy,” and for Nadia “I just feel like I simply gave it away.”

Now Maria Sharapova will face the winner from other quarter-final between Lindsay Davenport and Justine Henin-Hardenne, in the - Maria’s first -Semi-Finals of Australian Open Tennis Tournament.