Hostage tragedy in mind, Sharapova takes Open upset in stride
By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer
September 4, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- Maria Sharapova and her father often trade glances between
points. In the stands, Dad pounds his fist on his chest, and she mimics the
signal.
It represents a simple message -- ``Play with heart!'' -- but the Wimbledon
champion didn't use the gesture during a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 upset loss to Mary
Pierce in the U.S. Open's third round Saturday.
Instead, right over her heart and just below her sponsor's logo, Sharapova's
silver dress carried a plain black ribbon. She wore it in memory of the more
than 340 people, nearly half children, killed in a hostage-taking at a school
in her native Russia.
``I lost today, but I still have to move on. It's not the end of the world,''
said Sharapova, who double-faulted 14 times and dropped the final five games.
``There are a lot more important things in the world going on right now.''
Given her almost perfect English, her all-grown-up strokes, and her poise on
and off the court, it's easy to forget that Sharapova is just 17 and was born
in Siberia.
If she hadn't flashed the tennis ability that prompted a move to Florida a
decade ago, Sharapova might very well be just another teen readjusting to
high school life this week, half a world away.
``The first of September is when so many kids go to school, the first day
back. They go in with flowers and the whole family,'' she said.
``Unfortunately, the terrorists decided to do something bad with those
families and kids. It just shows that my loss is a little thing.''
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