NASDAQ-100 OPEN

March 29, 2005

Maria Sharapova

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, well, she's a top player. She's been a top player. Even when she's been gone I think she's very anxious to get back. Those people can be dangerous because they want to give all they've got out there. I was expecting a really tough match. It came out to be really tough.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, she's a great all-around player. She hits a lot of balls back, you know you have to hit one extra shot. That's one thing that I wanted to make sure, I was ready for every ball.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, my back has been sore for a little bit. But, you know, today there were a lot of long points and a lot of moving going on, so it was getting tighter as the match went on. I couldn't serve. When I landed, I felt it more on the serve while I was landing. But, you know, I got some treatment and I just try to forget about it.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Will it? I don't know. It's a tough call.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, well, either way it's not going to be an easy match. I'm expecting a tough one either way. I've had great matches with Serena. Played Venus before a few times as well. You know, both are going to be difficult.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Doesn't matter.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I'm not sure yet. I haven't replied to the request. But for sure, you know, I've said this before, I'm going to play in the future, yes.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah. We are in ongoing conversations.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't know yet if I'm physically ready for, you know, for more matches at this point. I've been on the road for a while already, and I think after this tournament, you know, I'm just going to see how I feel, you know, if I'm physically -- you know, I want to make sure I'm 100%. If I'm not, then there's no reason why I want to play.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: You know, both of them, like I said, you just have to go out and you have to play. I mean, I try to focus on my game rather than thinking what's their strength or their weaknesses or what I have to do. I mean, you know, just focus on myself.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, she's very consistent. Her balls are very powerful. You cknow, even though, you know, she might not have the best serve, you know, she still -- I think she knows that, you know, she feels that her game, you know, is good enough. I know she's been working on her serve, and that's a big part of a game in tennis. You know, it's a big advantage. But, you know, she's been in Grand Slam finals, so it doesn't seem to hurt her too much.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I wasn't trying to look at how she was playing.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I guess just keep fighting and keep being positive even though, you know, you just missed out on a big opportunity. Easy to say, hard to do. But just I think it's all mental. You just got to stay positive. You know, I was playing well till that point, then why can't I just keep playing well?