I believe that all tennis fans today stretched their smiles while chills were rushing through their bodies as Maria Sharapova fired winner after winner from all over the court, displaying the game we all admire and the determination that makes her one of the most lovable personalities on the WTA Tour.
When at the age of only 17 Masha won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon 2004 she though that life couldn’t get any better, but now, eight years later, we can safely say that she experienced an ever greater achievement: completing a career Grand Slam on the surface she once considered her worst and after a serious shoulder injury that considerably took her game backwards, forcing her to reinvent her once powerful serve. For a long time it seemed the old Maria stayed in 2008 and there was no way out, but no, that was not who Maria was destined to be, and now she’s not only larger than tennis, she’s larger than life!
The big celebration started with champagne showers.
Then there was a humble smile with the trophy in the locker room. By the way, just hours after Maria shared her trophy photo on Facebook, it has already attracted 115,925 likes, 5,741 shares and 14,406 comments!
Then this statement which reminds us of why we love Maria so much and why she’s such an inspirational character:
I’ve always said this: I love playing tennis. I had so many outs in my career. I could have said, I don’t need this. I have money; I have fame; I have victories; I have Grand Slams. But when your love for something is bigger than all those things, you continue to keep getting up in the morning when it’s freezing outside, when you know that it can be the most difficult day, when nothing is working, when you feel like the belief sometimes isn’t there from the outside world, and you seem so small. But you can achieve great things when you don’t listen to all those things.
In the Roland Garros finals ceremony the announcer made a major mistake and called Maria a runner-up, but even that the 25-year-old handled with grace and an applause.
Moreover, during the two weeks of Roland Garros, Masha reclaimed her No.1 ranking for the first time in four years.
And, she did all the above in top fashion, with a Nike blazer designed only for the elite in style and achievement.
Congratulations, Masha! Keep inspiring us!
A great article indeed! I loved it! I hope she can continue her winning ways.
how right you are in your first sentence in describing how i felt after the win for maria! she is truly exceptional!
Nice photos! I was so proud of her; she is the personification of “never ever, ever give up.”
Proud of her.
Re: Omair When somebody achieves like this, I usually don’t follow up with a “now you have to do more” or “keep on winning.” Screw that. She has already done it. Same way I felt after Rafa won Wimbledon in 2008 – that he didn’t owe me another win 🙂 I could die happy lol. Then of course he went on to grab four more Slams and who knows maybe a new record today of seven at the French Open.
I’m so happy for Sharapova. She thoroughly deserves this victory, and achieving the career grand slam. I think this could be a turning point in her career, and she could be a force to reckon with on the tour over the next 12, possibly 18 months. If she can win on clay, she can win on the moon, lol.
Of course being an Aussie, I wanted Stosur to win (bless that tortured soul, lol). But if anybody else had to win it, I wanted it to be Sharapova. She is such a good role model for young girls, and shows how hard work and dedication can pay off.
I’ve never been happier for Maria in her entire career. She never stopped believing even when everyone else said she was done. All of the times she struggled through injuries and humiliating losses post-surgery, she kept going and she knew it was all worth it because it all lead to this day. Hard work pays off and she said she knows she’s not done here. It’s only going to motivate her to do better. What a true inspiration and champion. Long live the Queen. Love you Maria and thanks for all the Maria fans who stuck through thick and thin, those who never stopped believing.
Thanks for the article, Marija!
Omair, thanks.
Maisee, well you can tell it was written from the heart 🙂
Tosin, you’re absolutely right. But also, you know people have to talk about something 🙂
Diane, definitely, that’s why she’s such an inspiration. And on top of everything, she’s an excellent business woman!
Erik, haha “bless that tortured soul” 😀
Teerin, thank YOU for coming here, it’s really been a long time!