• 1. Ana Ivanovic - SRB
  • 2. Maria Sharapova - RUS
  • 3. Jelena Jankovic - SRB
  • 4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - RUS
  • 5. Elena Dementieva - RUS


Maria Sharapova
 7 6 2
Dinara Safina
 6 7 6


Most likely candidate to win Wimbledon?




Maria unhappy over photo shoot ahead of tournament
May 3rd, 2008
35 Comments
Posted by: Marco

Maria Sharapova is criticizing the WTA Tour for threatening to fine her more than $300,000 if she doesn't take part in a promotional photo session ahead of the Italian Open in Rome on May 12.

"They want me to do this shoot on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of the Internazionali BNL Italia tourney after flying 12 hours from L.A.," the Australian Open champion said in a statement posted on her Web site on Friday.

"I have set my own personal rules when it comes to doing shoots and I never do shoots before tournaments because they are mentally draining and I want to just focus on my tennis."

In an e-mail, the WTA Tour said players have off-court responsibilities.

"Players have many obligations both on and off the court, and what is being asked of players in Rome is in the rules," the tour said.

Sharapova said she was not against promoting the tour and that her objection was to the schedule.

"To be honest, I would love to do this and help promote the tour as much as possible," she said. "But to force me to do this shoot the day before a Tier I tournament is just not right."


Leave a comment


Can May 03, 2008 at 12:32

Hey Maria We believe you
You can do what you want but don't forget that we will always accept your decision and love you as your fans or lovers. OK..
Don't worry about it
Also you know you don't need any promotion .. So I love youuuu

İf you come to Istanbul Cup 2008 , I can show my love..I just need to breathe the same air with you ... You should come here Maria you should ....

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1

Ed Dalu May 03, 2008 at 12:39

I agree with you Champ! WTA should consider your argument and not force you to comply with their "business" requirement. They should be sensitive to the conditions of the players.

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2

rslee May 03, 2008 at 13:11

Hey Maria,
The WTA seem to have some strange rules, but you have to do what you feel what is good for you. Your fans are behind you what ever you decide. Good luck in Rome.

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3

se1220 May 03, 2008 at 19:36

well, since she has nothing much to do now except training and won't compete in Germany, why don't she fly to Rome then take that photo shoot?

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4

Adam May 04, 2008 at 06:10

Maria, I totally agree with you on this subject because I have traveled long distances before and just the travel is hard enough no matter what class you travel in... I think it is fair for WTA to have players do photo shoots but I think it is possible they will be extra hard on you (Maria) because they might want to capitalize on your beauty
It is most unfortunate

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5

Oscar May 04, 2008 at 10:47

Maria, you must stand up and don't let the WTA push you around. Flights are tiring and it is a joke that they want you to do a photo shoot straight after. You Fight Them. Love Oscar

http://www.fishinginfo.co.za

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6

zorang May 04, 2008 at 10:54

Congratulation!!They are crazy.It is better to donate 700000$ to in humanitary mission than to the trash from WTA bureaucracy.Where are they now Ana Ivanovic,sister Williams,Justine Henin,Jelena Jankovic?Maria is Goddess.Maria*s sin is because she is Russian.Thanks God for exist Maria.Good luck Masha and don*t give you money to nowan.

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7

don de la jolla May 04, 2008 at 13:59

Should not WTA management be flexible enough to bend when a player objects to a publicity shoot schedule? Why schedule players for a publicity shoot after a long airline flight and then threaten a huge fine if players don\'t cooperate? Avoid the bad publicity by rescheduling a shoot at a more convenient time for the player.

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8

luis e. May 04, 2008 at 21:58

Hello there..!

chachara.....

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9

frimsky May 05, 2008 at 03:18



hi masha, i know how hard it is for you to keep up the fight. am behind you, however, i hope it does not ake too much of your time and focus. slugging it out with wta. isnt that the tennis ruling body? alright, if it isd for rights, go on. hope it doesnt get too far tho. fight like a champion of rights.

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10

Sef May 05, 2008 at 11:40

I totally agree with you, Masha. I don't think it is right that WTA forced you to do the photo shoot just after your flight and a day before the tourney and what's worst is that it's a Tier I event. And i know that this kind of claycourt tournament is very important for you as a preparation for the upcoming French Open. They say it's for the promotion of tennis but they also must consider the situation of the players. They should've planned well regarding this matter to avoid conflicts. And i don't think not taking part in the said photo shoot is a heavy crime for her to be fined over $300,000!!!

WTA is just making millions of money at Maria's expense. I hate them now...

Hope you'll come up with the right decision for you, Maria. We, your fans, will be right here to cheer you on! Wish you all the best.

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11

Evgenia May 05, 2008 at 17:03

Maria!I don't understand WTA! !You are tennis player, not photomodel!Photoshoots before tournament.....I think it is very bad!Tennis players should think only about tennis during tournament!! GOOD LUCK you in Rome!............And a very good form!With love from Russia!

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12

marija skopje May 05, 2008 at 22:26

maria shrapova agree with you and good lusk for everthing !!you are best tennis player and fotomodel
-O

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13

Charlie May 06, 2008 at 16:10


I think you're right.
Just focus on tour tennis.

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14

Charlie May 06, 2008 at 16:12


I think you're right.
Just focus on your tennis.

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15

steven luther lawing May 07, 2008 at 00:19

Well, looks like i missed you again, today. We'll get back on to things tonight and start there first thing tomorrow. I won't be there tomorrow night (as now I have lots of work to make up): however, I will make that up later on this week!! Thanks to everybody that made today possible over the past week and a half( I'll take small responsibility for finishing it off Sunday afternoon), but a special thank you to the few people who did try to add a couple possitive and encouraging things. FYI, this white man does work, John.

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16

GedUK May 07, 2008 at 04:47

Do the photoshoot and give me the $300,000

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17

iguś May 07, 2008 at 19:16

Kocham TeniSs najlepsza jest ana ivanovic i maria sharapova :coolozdro

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18

Wester C. P. de Moraes May 07, 2008 at 19:50

Masha,
Obligations off court are tough!!!! But you are willing to help in promoting the tour!!!!!!!
Love,
Wester

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19

Watching from the North Shore May 09, 2008 at 03:22

So sad,

You will never know what he truly sought at this rate.

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20

zorang May 09, 2008 at 12:14

igus This is site Maria Sharapova.It is not site Ana Ivanovic.Maria is Goddess!!!Ana Ivanovic is nothing.Maria je najlepsa,a Ana Ivanovic nije ni blizu Mariji.Teniski svijet mnogo duguje Mariji,a Ani Ivanovivc nista.Marija se u ovom sukobu sa WTA bori za prava teniserki.Gdje je tu Ana Ivanovic?Krije se zato sto nema srce.Masha is the best.

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21

roger May 09, 2008 at 14:18


I love u dalin..but why you have to have a flight just a day before the game??
why you did not take a flight two or three days before??
so you will have enough preparation for the shoot and the match^_~

but it's up to you..I hope you will make a right decision..and dont make any provocate step. because many people love to see you in trouble..but i dont ^_~

love u always...

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22

shore May 09, 2008 at 15:07

Maria,

Noone is going to tell you what to do. It's one of the things your fans truly love about you. Just one thing to consider. If you think four or five hour photo shoots before bi tourn. are taxing, how do you think all day court appearances are going to be like for the next several tournaments. But I love the way you use your website(the same logic that's says you signed a contract forcing you to do that shoot also says(or doesn't say) that you can't use your website to fight that obligation. Also like the idea of the boycott, just don't know how much luckyou'll have in talking in talking your "rivals" into joining you.

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23

Shoaib Ahmed May 10, 2008 at 09:07

Sweet Maria,

I think you are always right.

I Love You so much forever.......

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24

Shoaib Ahmed May 10, 2008 at 09:09

Sweet Maria,

I think you are always right.

I Love You so much forever.......

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25

Shoaib Ahmed May 10, 2008 at 09:16

Sweet Maria,

You on my Heart you on my Soul....


I Love You so much forever.....

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26

Mustafa Bilal May 10, 2008 at 10:22

No need to be forced or thinking bad just do what your heart sayz ...Live ur own life.... Love mustafa

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27

Wolves 13 May 10, 2008 at 12:31

Hallo Moto,

i wait and wait .What i s Love !You Remember 13 Big Fish

Headquater SanDiego

Shopping in New Yorku.

Herz Jesu Church Maria

Zürich 2006

Linzer Torte.

Aus White Indian Bromby.

Thinikng about spirit of hawk

Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatryko.

Chantal need you.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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28

Wolves 13 May 10, 2008 at 12:32

Hallo Moto,

i wait and wait .What i s Love !You Remember 13 Big Fish

Headquater SanDiego

Shopping in New Yorku.

Herz Jesu Church Maria

Zürich 2006

Linzer Torte.

Australien 2008 White Indian Bromby.

Thinikng about spirit of hawk

Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatryko.

Chantal need you.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Avatar

29

Wolves 13 May 10, 2008 at 12:35

Hallo Moto,

i wait and wait .What i s Love ! 222
albo + 777
===============
999
=====
You Remember 13 Big Fish

Headquater SanDiego

Shopping in New Yorku.

Herz Jesu Church Maria

Zürich 2006

Linzer Torte.

Australien 2008 White Indian Bromby.

Thinikng about spirit of hawk

Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatryko.

Chantal need you.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Avatar

30

Wolves 13 May 10, 2008 at 12:35

Hallo Moto,

i wait and wait .What i s Love ! 222
albo + 777
===============
999
=====
You Remember 13 Big Fish

Headquater SanDiego

Shopping in New Yorku.

Herz Jesu Church Maria

Zürich 2006

Linzer Torte.

Australien 2008 White Indian Bromby.

Thinikng about spirit of hawk

Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatryko.

Chantal need you.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Avatar

31

Long Live the Catskills May 10, 2008 at 13:52

Hey, let me clear something up!!
I was referring to Utah, not L.B. (just trying to give him a boost)(sorry about that L.A.)(no ooffense utah)Now it seems like there are eight!!!!Let the fun begin.(OMG, you mean I was wrong about something)Well, I wasn't wrong!But I definitely ssent the wrong signal!

P.S.
I can tell you this people. Love shouldn't come across as a sick fixation! I know that much.

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32

L.L.C. May 10, 2008 at 13:58

Hey Maria,

New doodle idea!! How about some Hockey playoff updates.(everybody south of Canada could probably use them)I remember when the Lightning won in \'04! Everybody got so excited, I almost got a date with a co-ed.

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33

Yang May 10, 2008 at 19:56

I think that will just about cover the Maria thing!!!

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34

FERNANDO May 14, 2008 at 16:48

VAMOS MARIA, GARRA Y PRECISION, Y A POR TERCERA RONDA

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35