Bleacher Reporter has an article discussing why Russia’s Maria Sharapova is so popular with fans.  Sharapova has been consistently ranked as one of the most searched atheletes online. The article gives four major explanations with which I mostly agree. I have added the fifth reason  to explain mostly her popularity with sponsors:

1) Sex appeal. No comment here. Whether we agree or don’t, like or don’t like. Sex sells. Period.)

2) Successful tennis career. With three grand slams, 24 WTA titles and $16 million in prize-money, Sharapova continues to be a top-5 player. She is no Anna Kournikova. Her next mission is to win the Olympic Gold this year.

3) High-profile personal life. She is engaged to NBA player Sasha Vujacic for about two years already. However, Maria has managed to keep her personal life private. Good for her.

4) Nice personality.  She was likable when she won the Wimbledon in her late teens, and she’s still likable now, especially after taking a career break to recover from injuries.

5) Intelligent businesswoman. Not many talk about her intelligence, but make no mistakes. Maria is smart. At age 24, she remains the top-earning female athlete in the world. She renewed her Nike deal in 2010. The new eight-year contract is worth up to $70 million. She receives royalties from her own tennis line and a line of bags and shoes through Cole Haan. She has endorsements with Canon, Prince, Tiffany, Tag Heuer and Land Rover. Of course she has agents and business advisors, but I have seen  many interviews and appearances of her, where she exactly says what she is supposed to say. Nothing more, nothing less. When Nike signs an eight-year multi-million dollar contract, they must have some trust in the person who is going to represent them. She is not going to surprise us with Tiger-Woods-style lifestyle, or she is not going to have Serena-style outbursts on the court. Maybe it is somewhat dull, but I would call it simply “smart.”

Oh David… David…David Nalbandian lost to John Isner today 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5), 10-8 at the 2012 Australian Open. The match was full of drama and controversy.  Here is a nice summery of what happened.

And here is David’s post-match interview:

Q.  It’s never nice to lose in very controversial circumstances, but clearly it was a pretty dispiriting end to the match for you.  

DAVID NALBANDIAN:  Yeah.

 Q.  What do you make of the umpire’s decision in that 8All point? 

DAVID NALBANDIAN:  I asked for HawkEye and he make an overrule.  Because the lineman call out.  He overrule it.  Was a lot of noises, so I asked what happened, because the lineman called out.

He told me he overruled it.  And I say, Okay, I see the mark.  I say challenge.  Not a big deal.  He don’t want to do it. Read more »

Two-time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin has been elected to the Russian Parliament, the Duma. In an interview with ATP, the charismatic Russian tennis star said:

“I could go and make commercials left and right and pretend like I am a celebrity, but that is not me. This is a completely new life, a new way of thinking, new way of doing things that’s nothing to do with tennis or sports at all. But the two things definitely have one thing in common and that is that you need to have a character.”

Oh yes, you do have that, Mr Safin! Good luck in your new adventures.

(Photo: Getty Images)

It looks like after her July wedding to a Russian hockey player Maxim Afinogenov, retired Russian tennis star Elena Dementieva didn’t waste much time in finding a new career. Dementieva will be hosting a TV show on a Russian hockey channel KHL. The show entitled Kukhnya (”Kitchen” in Russian) will be looking at the game of hockey from female perspective and will be featuring hockey players in their personal lives. Here is a video clip from the show.

(Photo: Sovietski Sport)

In a press conference at China Open, Marat Safin said that his sister Dinara Safina had finished her tennis career. He further explained his comment: “She has injured her spine two years ago her at China Open. She has tried a comeback, which only made things worse. Now she needs to take care of her spine, to be able to walk  and lead a normal life. She will continue her rehabilitation, but she will no longer play tennis. It is impossible.”  In response to another correspondent’s question if his statement is an official announcement of her retirement, Marat said: “She will make the official announcement herself. But as her brother, I think, it is simply impossible to come back.”

TennisInfoBlog wishes all the best to Dinara in her future endeavors.

(Source: tennis.ru)

Interview with Justine Henin after losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-4, 7-6 (10) in the third round of the Australian Open.

Q. A bit of a disappointing result. What was the difference between the two of you?

JUSTINE HENIN: Well, of course it’s disappointing to lose like this. She is just been better than me, especially in the important moments. I got some opportunities in the second set to come back, but I never really took the lead in this match. I was really too far. Read more »

After defeating Gilles Simon in five sets 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Australian Open.

Q. You warned us two days ago it was going to be close and it was going to be tough. Did you really expect it was going to be that tough?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, four or five sets, what’s the difference really? But, look, at the end of the day I’m happy I’m through. That’s what it comes down to. Doesn’t matter if you win in straight or in five. Just keep on moving on in the draw and give yourself an opportunity for the next match, maybe an opponent that suits you more, maybe conditions that are maybe a bit more faster than tonight, let’s say. Get the night sessions, sort of the first one, out of the way, and stay alive and feel good. Read more »

An Interview With Vera Zvonareva (after she reached her US Open final with a 6-4 6-3 victory over the top seed Caroline Wozniacki. She will meet Kim Clijsters in the final).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What was the key to your victory today?

VERA ZVONAREVA: Um, I think it’s the same probably as the previous match, very similar. It’s the right balance between being patient and being aggressive. You know, with those windy conditions you have to play sometimes ugly, you know. You don’t have to expect to play your best tennis. That’s what I did well. I was not expecting to play my best tennis, but, you know, I was trying to be patient when I needed, and step up when I got the chance. Read more »

According to In Touch magazine, world tennis number 1 Serena Williams and her boyfriend rapper Common have broken up. Everything seemed to be going great for the couple. Common talked about Serena as recently as last week. Whatever is happening between them, we hope that it will not affect Serena’s performance in Paris, where she has managed to advance to the third round of the French Open.

Venus Williams’s outfit draws a lot of attention at this year’s French Open. One headline cracked me up: Venus Williams (and her outfit) advance. The lacy, see-through black dress that she designed has also made it to The New York Times.  The paper also runs a slide show called Tennis Fashion: Oxymoron where they showcase several of controversial outfits worn by tennis stars throughout the sport’s history, including Maria Sharapova’s tuxido-inspired get-up.