Sharapova celebrates Open final with room service
Date published :
08 Jun 2012 - 14:47:12
Maria Sharapova enjoyed a low-key celebration to reaching her first French Open final and reclaiming the world number one spot after a four-year absence -- she ordered hotel room service.
"Yeah, my celebration was room service and a massage. How exciting, huh? Yeah, that's as good as it gets before a final," said the Russian on Friday, 24 hours before she tackles Sara Errani of Italy for the French Open title.
Sharapova guaranteed a return to the world number one ranking by beating Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in Thursday's semi-finals, before heading back to her hotel and her conservative celebrations.
But the second seed insisted that she is has always been determined to stick to her routines, both during and after matches as she targets becoming the 10th woman to complete a career Grand Slam.
"I think it's always nice to have a routine. I have always had my own little routine during the matches since I was very young. I've kind of stuck to it, win or lose," she said.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova said Friday that the sport needed a star of Sharapova's stature on top of the world rankings.
Navratilova, herself a former world number one and a winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, said the Russian deserved to reclaim a position she last held four years ago.
"She's a superstar, and it's always good if a superstar is at the top. Serena and Venus Williams haven't been No. 1 for a while," said Navratilova, who praised Sharapova's comeback from a shoulder injury.
"For Maria, coming back from shoulder surgery where most people would have called it a day, she stayed with it.
"I was really impressed with not just the physical and mental focus it takes to rehab, and believe and keep coming back and keep doing everything that you have to physically, but then to overcome the mental aspects of the game.
"Obviously she had issues with her serve after she came back with the bad toss and technique, and, you know, very predictable on the serve, double faults all over the place. She completely conquered it, and kudos to that."
