WIMBLEDON

June 23, 2005

Maria Sharapova

MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, Maria for you.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I definitely was. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy match. Mentally from the first point on, even though I was down 15-40 in the first game, I was still mentally really tough. I just played great tennis today.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I didn't. You know, I focused really well. Returning and serving was a big key today. It's always a big key on grass, but I think I did that really well.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I know how it feels to lose 0-0, and it's not a good feeling, so I just let it go (laughter).

MARIA SHARAPOVA: You know, that was a long time ago. She's grown up a lot since then. So it's not really worth talking about. It's just a matter of -- you know, it doesn't matter what happens off the court. It's just going out there and, you know, playing tennis, you know, playing a match. So I don't really worry about what happens, who talks what. Everybody talks and everybody makes comments. But it's normal. You just have to go out on the court and just have to play. You know, the tennis does the talking all the time.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I knew she got to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Obviously, grass is totally different. I don't think she's had as much experience on it as she would have liked. But it's normal for someone that's 15 years old. You know, I think she still has a lot to develop in her game.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. It's hard to feel sorry for your opponents. Unfortunately, this is an individual sport.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. We're in different locker rooms, because I'm in the members locker room. Sorry. I'm not trying to brag, that's just a fact.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, basically I'm taking one match at a time, but I'm giving -- I'm concentrating on every match. I think I played a lot better since I did in the first round. Obviously, first round you're going to have a little bit of nerves, you don't know what to expect. But, you know, I got a lot better. Today was a much better game. Hopefully I'll keep improving because the tennis is going to get tougher. You know, you're going to have to play better in order to win.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. There are a lot of tough opponents.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, double bagel. You don't remember that?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, that was a long -- long time, not a long time ago. Actually, it wasn't as much disappointing as losing probably when you have like match points because you're just, I mean, like it can't get any worse, you know. And you just forget about it. And after that I came out and I got to the finals of Nasdaq. It was whatever. It happened. It happens. This is life, you know. Obviously it's not great to lose 0-0, but you play against the No. 1 in the world. Yes, you're a top player, but it just wasn't your day. Life goes on.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I've played her once a long time ago. I haven't seen her play much. But with every single opponent I play, I just go out and I just play my game. There's nothing specific that I'm going to go out and worry about something, you know, about her game. Just have to go and you just have to perform and just do the best you can. Serve well, return well. If you're on those two things, I mean, you have a big advantage on grass if you're serving well and you're returning well.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, no.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's hard to work at it. It's not like you go to school to work on it (laughter).

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Is it easier? You just -- it's hard to explain, because when you go on the court, I mean, it really depends on the individual. If you're able to block everything out that's around you and you're just able to focus on the ball and your opponent, then you're in good hands. But if you're thinking about what someone yelled in the crowd or the line call or the media or the photographers, then you're in trouble. I'm pretty good, especially at this tournament, going onto the court and just paying attention to my opponent and the ball.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Right.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Not yet. Not yet. Doesn't seem to be so. I've pretty much concentrated and focused really well when I had to. I see there are days when you concentrate better than others. But you never know really.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm friends with Maria Kirilenko just because we're the same age, we have similar interests. I've known her since we played in the Juniors.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think like Lindsay said, it's hard to be friends with someone that's going -- that might be your opponent in the next round. Obviously, nothing against any of my opponents. But, you know, it's difficult to go really, really good friends off the court and then going on the court and trying to beat them. I mean, when you're off the court, it's friendly, but it's hard to become best friends with them. That's normal.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I feel like I'm in school now (smiling).

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I get bored because that was too much information (laughter). I don't know. Like I've said before, I don't think about it. I don't know what it creates, what it affects. I don't know.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: That was a long time ago.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's hard to say when there are not a lot of those around. I mean, there are rivalries, but I don't think they're nasty or they're bad. I mean, I don't -- I don't really --

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Will it help? I don't think it would make a difference. It might make it more exciting for the spectators just because they know the two opponents hate each other and they want to see what will happen on the court. Other than that, I don't know.