Such is the star power of Maria Sharapova that her victory at Rome on Sunday was like a ray of sunshine warming the women's game.
Venus and Serena Williams out of the French Open? The status of Kim Clijsters unclear? The world No 1 the queen of underwhelm?
So what? Maria is back!
Sharapova won a championship for the first time in nearly a year and did it on clay to reintroduce herself as a serious contender to win the only slam not already on her CV, the one at Roland Garros.
The tall Russian pushed aside Caroline Wozniacki, the placeholder of the world No 1 slot, in the Rome semi-finals, then dismissed Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4 in the final.
"I surely wasn't the favourite going into a clay-court event like this," Sharapova said in Rome. "To beat players who have had great results on clay means a lot to me.
"I may not be the best mover or best slider on clay, or the strongest player with the strongest legs, but there's a lot more than that in tennis."
Sharapova is still only 24, but her tactical awareness is high, a result of her five consecutive end-of-season top-10 rankings through 2008, her four stints at No 1 and all the big matches she has played since she first emerged in 2003.
She is renown for her fighting spirit, which further attracts fans to her. Martina Navratilova once said of Sharapova: "With her, it's not over till she's shaking hands," perhaps recalling her rally from 2-6, 1-3 down to win at Wimbledon in 2004.
She also won the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008. Her career took a downturn beginning early in 2009 and continuing through last year as she battled injuries to her right should and right elbow.
But those ailments looked like history as the Roman crowd cheered her to victory she moved up to No 7 in the world and makes her a contender for the honours in France.
Sharapova is one of the handful of players in the game whose presence as a contender changes the complexion of a tournament. She could win the French, but as a player also known for being one of the most pleasant and personable on tour, she will sell tickets and move television ratings. Her only known on-court failing is her habit of grunt while striking the ball.
But tennis officials and fans certainly will be happy to deal with her noise-making if it means she is playing deep into tournaments, at least until the game produces more stars of her luminosity.
The week on the ATP and WTA Tours
Men's tour this week
Novak Djokovic again defeated Rafael Nadal in a clay-court final, beating him 6-4, 6-4 in Rome. After losing his first nine matches on clay to Nadal, he has beaten him twice in eight days. Djokovic, increased his unbeaten streak to 37, five wins short of John McEnroe's record for best start to a season.
ATP rankings
Player Country Points
1. R Nadal ESP 12,075
2. N Djokovic SRB 11,665
3. R Federer SUI 8.390
4. A Murray GBR 6,085
5. R Soderling SWE 5,435
Women’s tour this week
The Russian Maria Sharapova defeated Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2, 6-4 to win on clay in Rome. In the semi-final the three-time major winner dismissed world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3. Stosur was playing in her first final since the French Open last year.
ATP rankings
Player Country Points
1. C Wozniacki DEN 10,105
2. K Clijsters BEL 8,115
3. V Zvonareva RUS 7,675
4. V Azarenka BLR 5,425
5. F Schiavone ITA 5,047
Open de Nice Cote d’Azur
Place: Nice, France
Duration: Through Saturday
Prize money: US$563,000 (Dh2m)
Surface: Clay
Defending champion: Richard Gasquet
Brussels Open by GDF Suez
Place: Brussels, Belgium
Duration: Through Saturday
Prize money: $618,000
Surface: Clay
Defending champion: Inaugural event
poberjuerge@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
THE%20SPECS
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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match info
Southampton 2 (Ings 32' & pen 89') Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Son 45', 47', 64', & 73', Kane 82')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
