Maria Sharapova got her tennis done early on Monday night.
The former No. 1 played in the first two sets of the night for the Orange County Breakers, women’s doubles and women’s singles, before a sold-out crowd at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach. After that, she sat on the bench and cheered on her teammates.
Sharapova won both of her sets, and said after the match that her play had improved from her first World Team Tennis match of the season, last week in San Diego.
The team as a whole played better too.
Orange County edged San Diego, 22-19, for its third home win in as many nights at Breakers Stadium. Halfway through the season, the Breakers moved into a four-way tie for first place in the league with San Diego, Washington and Philadelphia. All four teams have a 4-3 record.
Sharapova, 30, made a comeback from a 15-month doping suspension in April, but missed the grass-court season this summer due to a thigh injury.
She was a winner twice Monday night. In doubles, she teamed with Andreja Klepac to beat San Diego’s Shelby Rogers and Darija Jurak, 5-2. Sharapova then came right back to beat Rogers in women’s singles, 5-3, avenging a loss during the rivals’ first meeting of the season on July 16.
“I played much better than I did a week ago,” said Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion. “That was an improvement, and that was one of the main reasons I wanted to come out here and play. The court was very fast, with very quick rallies. I think a lot of it came down to serving and returning, and I think I did a really good job of that today.”
Sharapova played in her seventh season for the Breakers, but first since 2010. Her play impressed Breakers coach Rick Leach.
“Maria was really feeling the ball tonight,” Leach said. “She played really well. I think she’s going to be back in the top five in just a matter of time. She’s starting to play better. She hasn’t played for a while, so she’s got to remember how to play again, but today was a good step. I think she’s going to be ready to make her mark again.”
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As for Sharapova, she said she had fun playing again in Orange County. It’s not too far from her home in Manhattan Beach, and she also enjoys the format of World Team Tennis, she said in a pre-match press conference.
And, at 30, she is confident she can get back in the swing of things as a top-level player, even after so much time off. She is currently ranked No. 173.
Monday marked Sharapova’s second and final appearance for the Breakers this season.
“Take an example from Venus [Williams], what she was able to do at Wimbledon [making the final at age 37],” Sharapova said. “It’s an incredible example … that you can have a long career.”
Sharapova hopes that hers is pointed back in the right direction.
Маше белый цвет очень идёт! Как на Уимблдоне все в белых тонах...
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Last night playing World Team Tennis for Newport Beach Breakers. Love coming back to a place that I played at as a teenager. And getting the wins was a bonus 👊🏻 Aaaand getting to wear my Wimbledon dress which didn’t make it in the mail room for last weeks match 🙈
LA Times
July 24, 2017
Maria Sharapova got her tennis done early on Monday night.
The former No. 1 played in the first two sets of the night for the Orange County Breakers, women’s doubles and women’s singles, before a sold-out crowd at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach. After that, she sat on the bench and cheered on her teammates.
Sharapova won both of her sets, and said after the match that her play had improved from her first World Team Tennis match of the season, last week in San Diego.
The team as a whole played better too.
Orange County edged San Diego, 22-19, for its third home win in as many nights at Breakers Stadium. Halfway through the season, the Breakers moved into a four-way tie for first place in the league with San Diego, Washington and Philadelphia. All four teams have a 4-3 record.
Sharapova, 30, made a comeback from a 15-month doping suspension in April, but missed the grass-court season this summer due to a thigh injury.
She was a winner twice Monday night. In doubles, she teamed with Andreja Klepac to beat San Diego’s Shelby Rogers and Darija Jurak, 5-2. Sharapova then came right back to beat Rogers in women’s singles, 5-3, avenging a loss during the rivals’ first meeting of the season on July 16.
“I played much better than I did a week ago,” said Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion. “That was an improvement, and that was one of the main reasons I wanted to come out here and play. The court was very fast, with very quick rallies. I think a lot of it came down to serving and returning, and I think I did a really good job of that today.”
Sharapova played in her seventh season for the Breakers, but first since 2010. Her play impressed Breakers coach Rick Leach.
“Maria was really feeling the ball tonight,” Leach said. “She played really well. I think she’s going to be back in the top five in just a matter of time. She’s starting to play better. She hasn’t played for a while, so she’s got to remember how to play again, but today was a good step. I think she’s going to be ready to make her mark again.”
............................
As for Sharapova, she said she had fun playing again in Orange County. It’s not too far from her home in Manhattan Beach, and she also enjoys the format of World Team Tennis, she said in a pre-match press conference.
And, at 30, she is confident she can get back in the swing of things as a top-level player, even after so much time off. She is currently ranked No. 173.
Monday marked Sharapova’s second and final appearance for the Breakers this season.
“Take an example from Venus [Williams], what she was able to do at Wimbledon [making the final at age 37],” Sharapova said. “It’s an incredible example … that you can have a long career.”
Sharapova hopes that hers is pointed back in the right direction.
http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/sports/tn-dpt-sp-breakers-tennis-sharapova-20170724-story.html
Last night playing World Team Tennis for Newport Beach Breakers. Love coming back to a place that I played at as a teenager. And getting the wins was a bonus 👊🏻 Aaaand getting to wear my Wimbledon dress which didn’t make it in the mail room for last weeks match 🙈