Maria Sharapova’s 100 percent Russian by her mentality, says coach

Sovsport.ru carries an exclusive interview with Maria Sharapova’s coach Michael Joyce. This is the first time he has ever given an interview to a Russian magazine. In an interview he discusses Maria’s well-documented troubles with her shoulder injury, about their partnership and about Yuri Sharapov’s absence from the stands. Also, in response to the journalist’s question if she is more Russian or American by her mentality, Joyce answered:

“Maria is 100 percent Russian. Her mother always cooks Russian food. When her grandmother and grandfather visit them, and the family gathers around the table, it becomes so obvious how much they love Russia. Once we were in Phoenix, and somebody told us there is a Russian store in the city. We had to go to great lengths to find it. Maria bought almost whatever was available in the store. I haven’t seen her that happy for quite some time.”

[TIB: I wonder if he would have given the same answer to the American media. I am just saying:-)]

(Photo: AP)