https://www.theguardian.com/sport/maria-sharapova Maria Sharapova! en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 Sun, 17 May 2026 13:46:13 GMT 2026-05-17T13:46:13Z en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 https://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.png https://www.theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2025/aug/24/serena-williams-congratulates-maria-sharapova-on-tennis-hall-of-fame-induction-video <p>Serena Williams made a a surprise appearance at the International Tennis Hall of Fame ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, emerging from behind the stage to introduce 'former rival, former fan and forever friend' Maria Sharapova for her induction on Saturday night. 'My favourite moments were always the quiet victories,' Sharapova told the audience. 'In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a remarkable life.'</p><p></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/23/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-tennis-hall-of-fame"><strong>Sharapova enters tennis Hall of Fame with surprise cameo by Serena Williams</strong></a></p></li></ul> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2025/aug/24/serena-williams-congratulates-maria-sharapova-on-tennis-hall-of-fame-induction-video">Continue reading...</a> Serena Williams Maria Sharapova US sports Tennis Sport Sun, 24 Aug 2025 13:37:10 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2025/aug/24/serena-williams-congratulates-maria-sharapova-on-tennis-hall-of-fame-induction-video Photograph: Reuters Photograph: Reuters Photograph: Reuters 2025-08-24T13:37:10Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/23/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-tennis-hall-of-fame <ul><li><p>Williams surprises Sharapova at induction</p></li><li><p>23-time major winner hails fierce rivalry</p></li><li><p>Bryan brothers, Sharapova join 2025 class</p></li></ul><p>Serena Williams made a a surprise – and early – appearance at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, emerging from behind the stage to introduce “former rival, former fan and forever friend” Maria Sharapova for her induction on Saturday night.</p><p>Williams, a 23-time grand slam champion who will be eligible for her own enshrinement in 2027, drew gasps and shrieks from the crowd at the Newport shrine.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/23/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-tennis-hall-of-fame">Continue reading...</a> Tennis Maria Sharapova Serena Williams Sport US sports Sun, 24 Aug 2025 02:46:39 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/23/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-tennis-hall-of-fame Photograph: Reba Saldanha/Reuters Photograph: Reba Saldanha/Reuters Photograph: Reba Saldanha/Reuters Associated Press 2025-08-24T02:46:39Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/28/sunday-with-maria-sharapova-if-i-need-gardening-help-my-mother-takes-over <p>The tennis star considers roast dinners, returning to Wimbledon and whether her young son Theo will follow in her footsteps</p><p><strong>Sunday nosh?</strong> I like a British Sunday roast. We’ll go to the Surprise in Chelsea or the Pelican in Notting Hill. My fiancé [auctioneer Alexander Gilkes] is British, so I get all the British traditions. He loves theatre and galleries, but we have to make sure everything is child-friendly for our son, Theo.<br><br><strong>Younger Sundays? </strong>Tennis finals were always at the weekend. If I was competing, then it meant I’d had a successful tournament. Now I appreciate that I can dedicate weekends to Theo.<br><br><strong>When did you last</strong> <strong>whop a tennis ball? </strong>It’s been a while. I should really start to do that with my son.</p><p><strong>Is Theo going to become a tennis champ?</strong> It’s too early to tell. If he wants to pick up tennis, great. I took him to Wimbledon for the first time this year, which I was very excited about. This is the first time I’ve attended as a spectator. It’s now 20 years since I won the tournament.<br><br><strong>Why so long?</strong> Life got in the way! I do love the spirit of Wimbledon. It’s so exciting. This is a sport I’ve been a part of since I was a young girl. To see people embrace something that I was so passionate about for a long time is really nice.<br><br><strong>Sunday jobs?</strong> I’m not really a gardener. I’ve never really been good at it – my mother’s so much better than me, so if I need any help, she usually takes over. My son likes flowers. Every park we go to, he’ll pick a few leaves and give them to strangers, which is very sweet and they take it as a compliment, but then he wants them back.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/28/sunday-with-maria-sharapova-if-i-need-gardening-help-my-mother-takes-over">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Tennis Sport Sunday with… Life and style Sun, 28 Jul 2024 05:45:45 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/28/sunday-with-maria-sharapova-if-i-need-gardening-help-my-mother-takes-over Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images Rich Pelley 2024-07-28T05:45:45Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/mar/01/maria-sharapovas-celebrity-was-divisive-but-built-a-brand-for-life <p>The fascination with Sharapova’s money has always been curious because so much of it is a simple reflection of a society that values and promotes a certain look</p><p>The first time Maria Sharapova arrived at the top level of professional tennis she was introduced to the world as a “babe”. Sharapova had been <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urP6OasfORI" title="">drawn to face Ashley Harkleroad</a>, another blonde youngster thrust into the spotlight on the perceived strength of her looks, in the first round of Wimbledon in 2003. The tabloids exploded.</p><p>Sharapova was only 16 years old but the match was dubbed “the battle of the babes” and she later sat through a cringe-inducing press conference as journalists leered at a child and then put their leering thoughts to her. “How are you going to fill the [Anna] Kournikova role?” asked one reporter. “What’s the biggest difficulty with certain looks and a certain ability to keep concentrated on the sport?”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/mar/01/maria-sharapovas-celebrity-was-divisive-but-built-a-brand-for-life">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Tennis Sport Sun, 01 Mar 2020 18:29:13 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/mar/01/maria-sharapovas-celebrity-was-divisive-but-built-a-brand-for-life Photograph: Vassil Donev/EPA Photograph: Vassil Donev/EPA Photograph: Vassil Donev/EPA Tumaini Carayol 2020-03-01T18:29:13Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/feb/26/farewell-maria-sharapova-the-ice-queen-who-was-more-respected-than-loved <p>Five grand slam titles was a decent haul for a player renowned for fighting spirit on the court and Hollywood glamour off it</p><p>Fittingly, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/26/im-saying-goodbye-maria-sharapova-announces-tennis-retirement" title="">Maria Sharapova said goodbye to tenni</a>s on Wednesday in the pages of not one but two fashion magazines, a self-penned “essay” that allowed no scrutiny but invited a mixture of awe and sympathy.</p><p>The 32-year-old Russian, who won five grand slams and could freeze a room with her aloof grandeur, will be remembered as the ice queen of the sport, respected more than loved inside the game. She nonetheless was a media darling from the moment she beat Serena Williams to win Wimbledon when only 17 until the fading days of her career when meaningful victories for the world No 373 were distant memories.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/feb/26/farewell-maria-sharapova-the-ice-queen-who-was-more-respected-than-loved">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Tennis Sport Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:11:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/feb/26/farewell-maria-sharapova-the-ice-queen-who-was-more-respected-than-loved Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Kevin Mitchell 2020-02-26T18:11:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2020/feb/26/maria-sharapova-her-career-in-pictures <p>As one of tennis’s biggest stars retires, we take a look back at the career of the five-times grand slam champion and former world No 1</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2020/feb/26/maria-sharapova-her-career-in-pictures">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Tennis Photography Sport US sports Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:04:59 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2020/feb/26/maria-sharapova-her-career-in-pictures Photograph: Getty Images Photograph: Getty Images Photograph: Getty Images Steven Bloor 2020-02-26T18:04:59Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2020/feb/26/maria-sharapova-tennis-star-and-five-times-grand-slam-winner-retires-video <p>Maria Sharapova&nbsp;has announced her retirement from tennis after struggling with chronic shoulder problems. Having ended all of 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2012 as the No 1 in the world, and been a top five player as recently as 2016, the five-times grand slam champion is leaving the sport ranked no 373.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/26/im-saying-goodbye-maria-sharapova-announces-tennis-retirement">'I'm saying goodbye': Maria Sharapova announces tennis retirement</a></li></ul> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2020/feb/26/maria-sharapova-tennis-star-and-five-times-grand-slam-winner-retires-video">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Tennis Sport Wed, 26 Feb 2020 16:17:26 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2020/feb/26/maria-sharapova-tennis-star-and-five-times-grand-slam-winner-retires-video Photograph: Grid Photograph: Grid Photograph: Grid Nicholas Williams 2020-02-26T16:17:26Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/26/im-saying-goodbye-maria-sharapova-announces-tennis-retirement <ul><li>Five-times grand slam winner calls time on career</li><li>‘How do you leave the only life you’ve ever known?’ </li></ul><p>Maria Sharapova, who announced her retirement from tennis on Wednesday, will be remembered in many corners of her sport with respect more than affection – and it will not worry her much at all.</p><p>The 32-year-old Russian who arrived in America from Sochi with her father in 1994 as refugees from the poison of Chernobyl – with $700 and not a word of English between them – won five grand slam titles and was ranked the highest earner in women’s sport for 11 years in a row. But it is her icy demeanour and failure to build on an early victory over Serena Williams that grab the imagination as much as those fine achievements.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/26/im-saying-goodbye-maria-sharapova-announces-tennis-retirement">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Tennis Sport US sports Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:21:50 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/26/im-saying-goodbye-maria-sharapova-announces-tennis-retirement Photograph: Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Photograph: Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Photograph: Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Kevin Mitchell 2020-02-26T13:21:50Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/21/maria-sharapova-australian-open-exit-fears-future-shoulder-problem-tennis <ul><li>Russian goes out to Donna Vekic in opening round</li><li>Sharapova world ranking projected to drop to No 366</li></ul><p>It says much about a player’s decline when their early departure from a big tournament goes largely unnoticed in the wider context but remains a centrepiece of the media circus. So it was for Maria Sharapova, whose lingering celebrity still commands a place on the main stage but yet again was not matched by her performance here.</p><p>Invited into the draw with a wildcard, the 32-year-old Russian thanked the tournament director, Craig Tiley, for his generosity, after flitting past us in an hour and 21 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, helpless to stop 19th seed, Donna Vekic, winning 6-3, 6-4.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/21/maria-sharapova-australian-open-exit-fears-future-shoulder-problem-tennis">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Australian Open 2020 Australian Open Tennis Sport Tue, 21 Jan 2020 11:18:50 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/21/maria-sharapova-australian-open-exit-fears-future-shoulder-problem-tennis Photograph: Scott Barbour/AAP Photograph: Scott Barbour/AAP Photograph: Scott Barbour/AAP Kevin Mitchell at Melbourne Park 2020-01-21T11:18:50Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/08/a-second-hand-event-maria-sharapova-questions-brisbane-court-allocation <ul><li>Women’s event run at same time as men’s ATP Cup</li><li>Russian loses after being forced onto outside court</li></ul><p>Maria Sharapova says the women’s Brisbane International feels like a “second-hand event” after being forced to start on an outside court due to a clash with the men’s ATP Cup. But it seems she won’t be getting too much sympathy from Australia’s captain Lleyton Hewitt.</p><p>Sharapova became the latest women’s star to raise questions about the inaugural men’s team tournament having a monopoly on Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane this week after her shock first round loss to American qualifier Jennifer Brady on Tuesday night.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/08/a-second-hand-event-maria-sharapova-questions-brisbane-court-allocation">Continue reading...</a> Tennis Maria Sharapova Australia sport Sport Tue, 07 Jan 2020 23:13:25 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/08/a-second-hand-event-maria-sharapova-questions-brisbane-court-allocation Photograph: Albert Perez/EPA Photograph: Albert Perez/EPA Photograph: Albert Perez/EPA Australian Associated Press 2020-01-07T23:13:25Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/31/maria-sharapova-ready-to-return-to-best-ahead-of-brisbane-international <ul><li>Shoulder issue has restricted her to just 15 matches in 2019</li><li>‘It’s a fresh start after a tough last season,’ Sharapova said</li></ul><p>Her troublesome right shoulder may never be 100 per cent, but former world No.1 Maria Sharapova is convinced she can bounce back to her best ahead of her latest tennis comeback. The 32-year-old has been frustrated by the ongoing shoulder complaint that has plagued her since serving a doping ban, limiting her to just eight events and 15 matches in 2019.</p><p>But the five-time grand slam champion said retirement had never been on her radar as she prepared to launch her 2020 campaign in Queensland after accepting a wildcard for next month’s Brisbane International.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/31/maria-sharapova-ready-to-return-to-best-ahead-of-brisbane-international">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Tennis Australia sport Sport Tue, 31 Dec 2019 04:27:20 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/31/maria-sharapova-ready-to-return-to-best-ahead-of-brisbane-international Photograph: Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters Photograph: Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters Photograph: Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters Australian Associated Press 2019-12-31T04:27:20Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/26/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-us-open-first-round <ul><li>Williams wins 6-1, 6-1 over Sharapova in 59 minutes</li><li>Djokovic opens title defense with straight-set victory</li></ul><p>So much has changed since the last time Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova stared each other down from across the net, fists pumped and teeth bared as growls vibrated from their throats. After falling to Wiliams for a 19th time in their 2016 Australian Open quarter-final, Sharapova walked off the court and took the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/08/maria-sharapova-press-conference-failed-drugs-test-meldonium">drug test that would change her life</a>. A year later, Williams returned to Melbourne pregnant and tore through the draw without dropping a set.</p><p>In the years since, both women have failed to match those results for different reasons, but under the lights of the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the most absurd first-round draw in recent history, there was a sense of familiarity as Williams demolished Sharapova 6-1, 6-1 to move up 20-2 in one of the most famous head-to-heads of all time.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/26/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-us-open-first-round">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2019 Serena Williams Maria Sharapova Sport Tennis US Open tennis US sports Tue, 27 Aug 2019 02:00:38 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/26/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-us-open-first-round Photograph: USA Today Sports Photograph: USA Today Sports Photograph: USA Today Sports Tumaini Carayol at Flushing Meadows 2019-08-27T02:00:38Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/24/maria-sharapova-serena-williams-15-year-feud-us-open The nervous energy and sense of expectation around first-round showdown will light a flame under the championships<p>If Serena Williams really did say of Maria Sharapova in the Wimbledon locker room in tearful defeat 15 years ago, “I will never lose to that little bitch again”, she was wrong but she set in train the most impassioned and complex rivalry in tennis.</p><p>When it reaches its latest and probably final peak – in the first round of the US Open on Monday night – the 22nd match scheduled between the emotional American and the ice-cold Russian might lack the fire and quality of the past but it will be none the less enthralling for that.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/24/maria-sharapova-serena-williams-15-year-feud-us-open">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Serena Williams US Open Tennis 2019 US Open tennis Tennis US sports Sport Sat, 24 Aug 2019 17:15:37 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/24/maria-sharapova-serena-williams-15-year-feud-us-open Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images Kevin Mitchell at Flushing Meadows 2019-08-24T17:15:37Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/22/us-open-draw-serena-williams-maria-sharapova <ul><li>Serena opens bid for record-tying 24th major against Sharapova</li><li>Top-seeded Djokovic drawn into same half as No 3 seed Federer</li><li>Breakout star Cori Gauff could face Naomi Osaka in round three</li></ul><p>Serena Williams has been paired with Maria Sharapova in an eye-catching US Open first round encounter.</p><p>Williams and Sharapova have met in the finals of the other three majors and the 2012 Olympics but have yet to face each other in the US Open.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/22/us-open-draw-serena-williams-maria-sharapova">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2019 Sport Tennis Serena Williams Maria Sharapova US sports Thu, 22 Aug 2019 17:50:49 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/22/us-open-draw-serena-williams-maria-sharapova Photograph: Liewig Christian/Corbis via Getty Images Photograph: Liewig Christian/Corbis via Getty Images Photograph: Liewig Christian/Corbis via Getty Images Guardian sport 2019-08-22T17:50:49Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jul/02/sharapova-out-amid-injury-drama-as-muguruza-also-falls-in-wimbledon-shocks <ul><li>Sharapova retired with a wrist problem 5–0 down in final set</li><li>2017 champion Muguruza lost 6–4, 6–4 to Beatriz Haddad Maia</li></ul><p>The two biggest shock defeats in the women’s draw befell two former champions: Maria Sharapova and Garbine Muguruza.</p><p>Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, was forced to retire hurt with a wrist problem when trailing 5–0 to Pauline Parmentier in the third and final set. The Russian won the first set 6-4 but lost the second 7-6 (4).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jul/02/sharapova-out-amid-injury-drama-as-muguruza-also-falls-in-wimbledon-shocks">Continue reading...</a> Wimbledon 2019 Maria Sharapova Garbiñe Muguruza Ash Barty Petra Kvitova Sport Tennis Wimbledon Tue, 02 Jul 2019 17:20:41 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jul/02/sharapova-out-amid-injury-drama-as-muguruza-also-falls-in-wimbledon-shocks Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Press Association 2019-07-02T17:20:41Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/23/maria-sharapova-tennis-wimbledon <p>The former World No 1 has struggled with injuries and controversy in recent years, but will head to Wimbledon believing her story is not over yet</p><p>Fifteen years ago, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/20/barty-overcomes-first-set-loss-to-beat-sharapova" title="">Maria Sharapova </a>arrived at Wimbledon and produced one of the biggest tennis stories in history, storming to a maiden slam title at 17 years old. Her precociousness was astounding. She finished her first press conference by announcing: “I’m here to win it.” Before her semi-final against the former champion Lindsay Davenport, she said: “She won this tournament and I want this tournament.” In the final, she shocked Serena Williams with her relentless depth of shot and a fearlessness. Everything about her first triumph seemed natural.</p><p>This past week, Sharapova, five times a grand slam champion, returned to competition for the first time in four-and-a-half months at the Mallorca Open, a tiny grass court event held in a secluded corner of the Spanish island. Sharapova is 32 now and in February underwent a second surgery on her right shoulder. Mallorca was her fourth tournament of the year and her first since January, when she lost in the quarter-finals at Shenzhen and in the fourth round of the Australian Open before withdrawing before her second-round match at St Petersburg, because of her shoulder. Though she is in Britain this coming week she will not be playing at Eastbourne. Wimbledon, starting a week on Monday, is quite a challenge.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/23/maria-sharapova-tennis-wimbledon">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova Wimbledon Tennis Sport Sun, 23 Jun 2019 07:29:37 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/23/maria-sharapova-tennis-wimbledon Photograph: Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Photograph: Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Photograph: Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Tumaini Carayol 2019-06-23T07:29:37Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/15/maria-sharapova-withdraws-french-open-injury-paris • Two-times champion still struggling with shoulder injury<br />• ‘Sometimes the right decisions aren’t always the easiest ones’<p>Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the French Open because of a shoulder problem. The two-times Roland Garros champion has not played since January and had surgery on her injury the following month.</p><p>The 32-year-old announced on Instagram she would not be participating in the tournament, which begins on 26 May.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/15/maria-sharapova-withdraws-french-open-injury-paris">Continue reading...</a> Maria Sharapova French Open Tennis Sport Wed, 15 May 2019 22:11:44 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/15/maria-sharapova-withdraws-french-open-injury-paris Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Press Association 2019-05-15T22:11:44Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2019/jan/20/maria-sharapova-rebuffs-questions-on-meldonium-and-booing-after-australian-open-exit-video <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/maria-sharapova">Maria Sharapova</a> declared Ashleigh Barty could win the Australian Open after having her own title ambitions crushed by the big home hopeful.<br></p><p>But a surly Sharapova was in no mood to answer questions about her controversial seven-minute toilet break between the second and third sets of her <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/20/barty-overcomes-first-set-loss-to-beat-sharapova">4-6 6-1 6-4 fourth-round loss to Barty.</a></p><p>The five-time grand slam champion was jeered by the Rod Laver Arena crowd after leaving Barty waiting, but Sharapova refused to answer whether or not the booing rattled her.</p><p>The Russian also took exception to a question about her no longer being able to take&nbsp;meldonium, a drug she used for a decade before being <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/07/maria-sharapova-failed-drugs-test-australian-open-2016-tennis">suspended for 15 months</a> after continuing to use the substance once it was banned by authorities.<br></p><p>Sharapova's defeat, as well as the shock exit on Sunday of second seed and fellow former champion Angelique Kerber, has blown Barty's bottom half of the draw wide open.</p><p>If the Australian can topple two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in Tuesday's quarter-finals, then she will face either Kerber's surprise conqueror Danielle Collins, unseeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or world No5 Sloane Stephens for a place in the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/australian-open-2019">title decider</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2019/jan/20/maria-sharapova-rebuffs-questions-on-meldonium-and-booing-after-australian-open-exit-video">Continue reading...</a> Australian Open Maria Sharapova Tennis Sport Sun, 20 Jan 2019 12:59:16 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2019/jan/20/maria-sharapova-rebuffs-questions-on-meldonium-and-booing-after-australian-open-exit-video Photograph: AAP Photograph: AAP Photograph: AAP 2019-01-20T12:59:16Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/20/barty-overcomes-first-set-loss-to-beat-sharapova <ul><li>Ashleigh Barty defeats Maria Sharapova 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 </li><li>Danielle Collins thrashes Angelique Kerber 6-0, 6-2</li></ul><p>Australians, generally, do not over-react to winning against the odds, partly because the gambling culture embedded so deeply in the national psyche is the perfect tool for handling the highs and lows of sport.</p><p>So Ashleigh Barty’s thrilling win over Maria Sharapova on day seven of the Australian Open to ensure a quarter-final appearance – the first by an Australian woman since Jelena Dokic 10 years ago – was acclaimed not as a shock but a deserved dividend on her backing her freewheeling tennis.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/20/barty-overcomes-first-set-loss-to-beat-sharapova">Continue reading...</a> Tennis Australian Open Ash Barty Maria Sharapova Australian Open 2019 Australia sport Sport Sun, 20 Jan 2019 10:53:44 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/20/barty-overcomes-first-set-loss-to-beat-sharapova Photograph: Julian Smith/EPA Photograph: Julian Smith/EPA Photograph: Julian Smith/EPA Kevin Mitchell at Melbourne Park 2019-01-20T10:53:44Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/18/ashleigh-barty-maria-sharapova-australian-open-lleyton-hewitt-bernard-tomic <p>The Queenslander’s run has provided a boost for Australian tennis after Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic’s spat</p><p>Ashleigh Barty, who strips down many of her trophies and gives them to friends to recycle for juniors at a Brisbane club, writes the sort of story Australian tennis badly needs right now.</p><p>While various stars of the men’s game here, faded and flickering, former and current, embarrass themselves on an almost daily basis by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/18/lleyton-hewitt-accuses-bernard-tomic-of-threatening-him-and-his-family" title="">bickering in public over private rows</a>, the 22-year-old Queenslander with the open smile and rock-solid game has been quietly working her way to the fourth round of the Australian Open.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/18/ashleigh-barty-maria-sharapova-australian-open-lleyton-hewitt-bernard-tomic">Continue reading...</a> Australian Open 2019 Ash Barty Maria Sharapova Australian Open Tennis Australia sport Sport Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:25:42 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/18/ashleigh-barty-maria-sharapova-australian-open-lleyton-hewitt-bernard-tomic Photograph: Rob Prange/REX/Shutterstock Photograph: Rob Prange/REX/Shutterstock Photograph: Rob Prange/REX/Shutterstock Kevin Mitchell at Melbourne Park 2019-01-18T13:25:42Z