first day:
Open-Angry Sharapova hits out at French Federation
Sun May 28, 2006 10:10 PM BST172
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By Simon Cambers
PARIS, May 28 (Reuters) - An angry Maria Sharapova accused French Open organisers of putting ticket sales ahead of players' interests after she limped into the second round on Sunday.
The Russian fourth seed was forced to play on the opening day of the claycourt grand slam despite requesting a late start after aggravating a right ankle injury in training. But with organisers keen to put their more marketable players on court in what was the first Sunday start at a grand slam, Sharapova was left with no choice.
"I put in the request Thursday... and after the MRI (on Friday), I called them and I asked them if I could play later," Sharapova said after she scrambled past American Mashona Washington 6-2 5-7 7-5.
"The answer was, 'You're playing Sunday fourth match'. Obviously, it's not in their best interest.
"It doesn't make you feel great when you know that the French Federation, all they're thinking about is selling tickets, making money and about their players. I can't be too happy about that."
Despite the injury, Sharapova showed typical steel as she saved three match points in the third set, coming from 5-2 down in the decider to reach round two.
"I was calling British Airways in the third set," joked Sharapova, whose last match was the final of the Miami event in early April.
"(From 5-2) I just blocked it (the pain) out somehow and started moving better, making her hit an extra ball. She got a little bit tight at 5-all and then I served it out and hit a few good shots and there's the match.
All the other top seeds had easy passage.
Open-Angry Sharapova hits out at French Federation
Sun May 28, 2006 10:10 PM BST172
Email This Article | Print This Article | RSS
[-] Text [+]
By Simon Cambers
PARIS, May 28 (Reuters) - An angry Maria Sharapova accused French Open organisers of putting ticket sales ahead of players' interests after she limped into the second round on Sunday.
The Russian fourth seed was forced to play on the opening day of the claycourt grand slam despite requesting a late start after aggravating a right ankle injury in training. But with organisers keen to put their more marketable players on court in what was the first Sunday start at a grand slam, Sharapova was left with no choice.
"I put in the request Thursday... and after the MRI (on Friday), I called them and I asked them if I could play later," Sharapova said after she scrambled past American Mashona Washington 6-2 5-7 7-5.
"The answer was, 'You're playing Sunday fourth match'. Obviously, it's not in their best interest.
"It doesn't make you feel great when you know that the French Federation, all they're thinking about is selling tickets, making money and about their players. I can't be too happy about that."
Despite the injury, Sharapova showed typical steel as she saved three match points in the third set, coming from 5-2 down in the decider to reach round two.
"I was calling British Airways in the third set," joked Sharapova, whose last match was the final of the Miami event in early April.
"(From 5-2) I just blocked it (the pain) out somehow and started moving better, making her hit an extra ball. She got a little bit tight at 5-all and then I served it out and hit a few good shots and there's the match.
All the other top seeds had easy passage.
