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Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova, Maria Kirilenko and Venus Williams, kournikova, hot, sexy, tennis, davis cup, signed, autographs, tournament, wallpapers, bikini photo shoot, wimbledon, us open, SI, sports illustrated, prince, nike, canon, videos
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“I learned English in one month. I told myself I should listen. In the next month I could talk to everyone. I was so happy because I could do one thing...I could talk.” |
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Posted on Jan 15 / 2007 / 12:19 PM 
Australian Open top seed Maria Sharapova said she will consider early retirement when she loses her motivation for top-level tennis and wants to start a family.
The 19-year-old Russian world No.2 said she was still hungry for more Grand Slams but would eventually examine the option taken by Kim Clijsters, who will retire at the end of the year aged 24 to have children and settle down.
"As long as I have the motivation, I'll definitely be playing," Sharapova said. "But I definitely think there are a lot of other things in life than tennis. I want to have a family, of course. I want to try other things in my career.
"Yeah, I can definitely see myself retiring at that age."
Sharapova, who made the semi-finals for the second time in Melbourne last year despite carrying an injury, said she wanted to maintain the momentum built up with her US Open win last September.
"I'm just ready to take it to the next level, hopefully get to the final or win it," she said.
"I'm glad that I could take the confidence that I played with at the (US) Open and take it through the end of the year, and hopefully start with that."
The Florida-based teen ended 2006 ranked a career-best world number two after a 19-match winning streak that was only ended by Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne in the last tournament of the season.
Success at Flushing Meadows brought Sharapova's second Grand Slam, following the Wimbledon title she won in 2004.
She has had relatively little preparation heading into Melbourne, limiting herself to the Champions Challenge in Hong Kong, where world No.5 Clijsters beat her in the final.
"I always like to take a week off with just training before a Grand Slam," she said.
"That's worked for me pretty well. I don't think I could physically play four, five matches and in two days start a two-week Grand Slam. I just don't think I'm ready for that yet."
Sharapova said her status as top seed would give her opponents extra motivation at the Australian Open, where she faces France's Camille Pin in the first round.
"The level of women's tennis right now is pretty high. I think a lot of people would want to beat the No.1 seed," she said.
"It's just a matter of going out there and coming out with a win."
Sharapova said she would not be wearing the powder-blue dress resembling a baby-doll nightie she sported at last year's tournament.
"Fashion-wise? I'm not doing baby doll any more. Baby doll has gone out the window," she said.
Instead, Sharapova will consolidate her position as the tour's glamour drawcard by wearing a high-waisted lemon-coloured chiffon number with a bow and "a little corset detail in the back".
"It's a pretty classy dress," she said.
Comments: 19 reactions
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Comment on article
Well, good luck to you in Aus.  |
by Wilson on Jan 15 / 2007 / 2:18 PM | |
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Family?Not yet! |
by boro on Jan 15 / 2007 / 3:28 PM | |
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hello maria , please dont retired at 24 years , i want that you win many grand slams , i want that retired at 28 years old ,bye
i love you  |
by matias on Jan 15 / 2007 / 4:17 PM | |
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Hello Masha
My best wishes in your games, go for this first place in WTA.
huges and kisses from Colombia |
by YURI RIZO on Jan 15 / 2007 / 4:24 PM | |
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A family? Maybe, but only if with me...I'll give you wonderful blond children... |
by Francois on Jan 15 / 2007 / 4:38 PM | |
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Masha,
As long as you are happy with your decisions, I am in agreement with that. The Grand Slams are your priority for the time being! All the best luck! The future lies ahead with success in whatever you put your efforts into!
Love,
Wester |
by Wester Moraes - Brazil on Jan 15 / 2007 / 7:17 PM | |
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Masha,good luck!I wish you to win Aus.I really LOVE YOU!!! Love,Andrey(Moscow,Russia) |
by Andrey on Jan 15 / 2007 / 8:54 PM | |
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hiya shazz hope u well,good luck in all your games,retiring when u lose motivation all the best in what u do in the future  ibby |
by ibby on Jan 15 / 2007 / 10:22 PM | |
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Maria,please dont retired early!i dont understand you!i want from you to play tennis at least 10 years!you are the best!i love you! |
by Fotis Grigoropoulos on Jan 16 / 2007 / 12:04 AM | |
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Hi Maria, as long you have proven yourself, you can do whatever you want to do. Most important thing is that you enjoy your life and all the blessings in you. Luv yah. |
by Mans Latonero - Philippines on Jan 16 / 2007 / 4:26 AM | |
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Hi Maria, as long you have proven yourself, you can do whatever you want to do. Most important thing is that you enjoy your life and all the blessings in you. Luv yah. |
by Mans Latonero - Philippines on Jan 16 / 2007 / 4:28 AM | |
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Hi Maria, as long you have proven yourself, you can do whatever you want to do. Most important thing is that you enjoy your life and all the blessings in you. Luv yah. |
by Mans Latonero - Philippines on Jan 16 / 2007 / 6:44 AM | |
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hey, beauty.this is opeyemi aketepe samuel from nigeria.i'm a fan as well as an admirer. to be sincere, i am dreaming of making you my soulmate.so how would i want you to retire now,never.i think you should retire after we have met that is going to be in about five years time when you will be 25 years of age.hope to see you soon maria.my name is opeyemi aketepe and i hope you don't have a boy friend already."what God has joined together let no man put asunder" |
by opeyemi aketepe on Jan 16 / 2007 / 6:26 PM | |
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HEY MASHA keep ur decision upto urself unless its time.....to show the statement u have set for urself in ur mind ....This is not the right time i guess..... But u know better urself ....and i will keep saying u u had a brilliant winning streak last year.....Just pass some years with this IST ranking u have and then u can leave HANDSOMELY with PROUD......WISH U BEST OF LUCK......for FUTURE and ......WITH LOVE AND KISSES.....I LOVE U......u MEAN MORE TO ME THAN ANY OTHER WOMEN IN THE WORLD....... !MUSTAFA! |
by MUSTAFA on Jan 17 / 2007 / 4:30 PM | |
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by 92ytud9jpk on Jan 19 / 2007 / 3:34 AM | |
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ROFL. YOU GUYS ARE FUNNY ! Maria you can do whatcha want. I'll still be a fan.  |
by Kyla on Jan 19 / 2007 / 11:30 PM | |
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Maria please do not retire now.  Keep going until 26 . |
by pindy on Jan 21 / 2007 / 10:00 AM | |
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hope you win aus open |
by karunkumar on Jan 25 / 2007 / 8:07 AM | |
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Hi Maria.Im begging you 10 more years please.Your too good to retire.I love you very much |
by Matt on Jan 30 / 2007 / 10:28 PM | |
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