Sharapova Set to Shine on Center Court at MSG

February 20, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Sharapova_02_20_12a

Long Island Tennis Magazine recently had a chance to chat with former world number one Maria Sharapova of Russia, who will be coming to New York on Monday, March 5 to compete at the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden. The annual event will feature two exhibition matches along with other entertainment for a fun-filled evening in the World’s Most Famous Arena. In addition to an exhibition match between American Andy Roddick facing Switzerland’s Roger Federer, Sharapova will be facing Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki.

Long Island Tennis Magazine: Have you enjoyed playing in New York throughout your career and do you enjoy the energy that the crowd brings in New York?
Maria Sharapova: Yeah absolutely. To be honest, when I was young and in juniors still, I came to New York and it was very overwhelming. It was never really my favorite because I could never understand that crazy energy and then playing in a match and driving through the city with so much going on. Every single year, I have kind of adapted to it and it is, by far, one of my favorite cities in the whole world. It is a place I love going to and playing there in Queens at the U.S. Open, but the energy we will experience at Madison Square Garden is going to make it quite different than what we have ever experienced before. That is just something that I am looking forward to.

LITM: The BNP Paribas Showdown is part of "Tennis Night in America" and its message is to inspire more kids to play tennis. How much do you hope that some kids might be watching at the Garden that night or watching it on TV seeing yourself and Roger, Andy and Caroline. How much do you hope to help inspire some kids to start playing tennis?
Sharapova:
I think, as a professional athlete whether we are playing tennis or other sports, one of our main goals is to encourage kids to become active and play sports. I think that is one of the most important things for a five-, six-, or seven-year-old who is just getting to know what he or she likes to do and which sport they are playing. I think it is a great opportunity for a young kid interested in tennis to see a tennis event live and in person. Sometimes when you experience a sport on TV, it doesn’t necessarily bring out that energy through the screen and the physical aspect and the emotion of how you play and the energy that you put into every stroke and the emotions are gone after points or certain situations. I think it is a unique experience for children and also their parents to see it live and yeah I would love to see as many kids out there as possible.

LITM: How do you approach an exhibition mentally as opposed to playing in the Open or a regular tournament? How does it change for you?
Sharapova:
It’s tough because, in a way, you are thinking this is not a tournament, but on the other hand, the reason why you are there is because people want to see your tennis and they want to see why you are on the top of the women’s game. But on the another hand, it gives the chance for the fans who watched you grow up over the years to see another side and personality on the court as well. I think exhibitions are a really good combination of not just showing the skills of tennis and the way you play but athletes personalities. Yeah, it is also a few days before a new one starts so it is a great warm up in a way.

LITM: I know you’ve been in town for a while, for Fashion Week, etc. Have you heard of “Linsanity?” if you have heard of it, what do you make of this phenomenon?
Sharapova:
Yeah, I was part of Fashion Week for a couple of days, and he [Jeremy Lin] didn’t quite make it to the fashion world yet, so I didn’t get a chance to experience it. I was so busy over there with meetings and the shows, but I did see the covers of the New York papers a few times and you guys are all on top of that. It’s pretty incredible, and I’m sure he’s enjoying all of that. To see a great athlete up and coming, especially in New York and Madison Square Garden, I’m sure it’s a lot to write about.

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Bethpage
Century

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