Tough as Nails: Resilient Sharapova Fights Back Both On and Off the Court
Saying that you’re a New Yorker is both a privilege and a point of pride. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a New Yorker. Whether you were born here or you were adopted as a New Yorker, we all share some common characteristics: We’re sharp, we’re hungry and we’re some of the toughest people out there. We think fast, we move fast, and we act fast. When we get knocked down, we get up and keep going. It’s this mentality that makes us tough and it’s this mentality that makes us appreciate toughness.
Watching Maria Sharapova move through all challengers at the French Open this year to eventually win the Roland Garros title helped me to realize, recognize and appreciate that New York level of toughness that she displayed there and throughout her career.
This is me, your humble writer, eating his words. Earlier this year, before the French Open, I wrote that Maria Sharapova had little to no chance at Roland Garros. Maria had lost a match to Serena Williams, her long time rival, at the Sony Open and fallen to her less notable Russian counterpart, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, in February. I also wrote that Maria lacked the mental toughness of Serena and that with such a diverse field of competitors, she would no doubt fall prey to one. How wrong I was. I underestimated her spirit, and have obviously come to realize that no matter what comes her way, Sharapova will be able to bounce back and overcome all obstacles to achieve success, both on the court and off.
Maria did an amazing job retiring her opponents in her pursuit of the 2014 French Open championship, but that doesn’t mean that her path was without trial. She needed three sets to finish off her opponents in the last four rounds, beginning with Samantha Stosur. Her fourth round match against the Aussie saw the tenacious Russian find her best form, putting together nine games to get the win. Stosur seemed somewhat perplexed by the reversal of fortune after having won the first set without much issue. Her quarterfinal match went quite the same way. After losing the first set quickly, Maria found her form through sheer determination and grit. The second set win at 7-5 gave her the confidence to steamroll the third 6-1.
The mental challenge here was to beat the woman that beat her rival. Garbine Muguruza had, earlier in the tournament, defeated world number one and the top-seeded Serena Williams easily, 6-2, 6-2. Had she not stayed mentally strong, the match could have easily slipped away. Her young Canadian semifinal opponent, Eugenie Bouchard, also tested Sharapova’s mettle. Maria was quoted as saying that although she’d like to win those types of matches in two sets, she’s ready to stay out there for as long as it takes.
Finally arriving in the finals, Maria was presented with a chance to win a second French Open. Once again, your humble writer did not give Maria much of a chance. She had just come off of three consecutive three setters, while her opponent, 22-year-old Romanian Simona Halep, had finished off all of hers in two sets. Only in the semifinal did Halep get an opponent who pushed her to a second set tie-breaker. I honestly believed Halep would have an easy time in the finals with fresh legs and a confident swagger. Sharapova’s force of will though would help her repeat her 2012 result with a huge win in a titanic match. The occasion was full of momentum shifts, breaks of serve, an incredible second set tiebreak and enough action to fill an HBO miniseries. Sharapova once again proved that she’ll do what it takes to come out victorious.
The case for Maria’s toughness and determination is well substantiated by her performance at the 2014 French Open, but one has only to look at her entire career to see that as the overarching theme. The women’s game has seen a great deal more volatility in the top 10 than the men’s game, but Maria has consistently risen to the top, achieving the number one ranking five times. She has won a major five times in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, and now 2014.
Had Maria won five major tournaments over the course of two or three years, a critic could say that she just had a good run and was consistent for that period of time, but that’s not the case. Maria is ever present in the women’s game and continues to find success through her efforts. She’s been able to battle back even from shoulder injuries which forced her to modify her game. Both in late 2008 and mid 2013, shoulder issues benched Sharapova from play. Her response … a return to form.
Sharapova has, as a testament to her indomitable spirit, the record for highest winning percentage on clay (81.8 percent) of all active female players, a staggering achievement considering that earlier in her career, she was uncomfortable on clay. Much like Rafael Nadal, she has changed and improved her game again and again to become better.
Sharapova’s level of focus and die-hard approach to the game is all the more impressive when you count all the off court activities she is involved with. We all know her from her presence on court, but she’s also the face of several product endorsements, modeling events, and of course she has expanded her brand to the realm of candy magnate with the launch of Sugarpova. Whether it be Maria as the face of such worldwide brands as Nike, Prince and Canon, or the face of fashion, she maintained a strong balance between her off-the-court interests and the pro tennis career that put her on the map. In 2006 at the age of 19, she was named the top-grossing female athlete by Forbes, earning over $18 million.
One thing you might not know about her though is that she is also a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. International aid is an issue close to Maria’s heart, having moved at an early age due to the Chernobyl disaster.
While Sharapova’s will and toughness is without question now in my mind, the elephant in the room should be addressed. Maria has yet to find an answer to Serena. Her first three meetings with Serena went well, having beat her two out of the three times. Since then, her record stands at 0-15. What is it about Serena’s game that eludes Maria? Perhaps the fact that they have so much in common is what hampers the ability to find a solution. Both women have a powerful game, both women do a fair amount of grunting, both women have consistently been in the Top 10 for the past decade, and the pair are two of the toughest women I’ve ever seen play the game.
Nick Bollettieri described Maria Sharapova as being tough as nails. I agree with Nick’s assessment wholeheartedly, and as a New Yorker, there no quality I appreciate more than that.
