Maria Sharapova Beats Venus Williams At Hua Hin

[webfact]

Maria Sharapova Beats Venus Williams At Hua Hin

January 2nd, 2010 - 5:54 pm ICT by GD

By Ranjan Bhaduri

Maria Sharapova

Jan 2, (THAINDIAN NEWS) It seems that Maria Sharapova's plan for a brilliant start in 2010 is turning true. The original glamor lady of tennis hoped that 2010 will put an end to her injuries and add some weight to her career. In 2009 her shoulder injury kept her off the field for a long time. She put her hopes on the Hua Hin match against Venus Williams. She also expects to improve her ranking in 2010. As per the latest updates, Maria Sharapova beat her opponent Venus Williams in the match that took place on Jan 2nd, 2010.

The Hua Hin tournament marks the centenary celebration of the popular beach resort town. Maria Sharapova was excited about the prospect of coming to Thailand and she was eager about other things than the match with Venus Williams as well. However, the victory at the beginning of the new year is going to boost her spirits. Interestingly, the Russian tennis star beat Venus Williams 5 years earlier in Chiang Mai. She was eager to taste the yummy Thai foods besides taking on her old time rival at Hua Hin. The match was spectacular and Maria Sharapova won by a margin of 6-3, 6-4- after a tough fight.

The day was a sunny one and Maria Sharapova was in her best form. Both the players wore pink dresses for the match. Venus Williams tried her level best to thwart the victory march of her opponent but Maria Sharapova was simply unstoppable. There were some tension filled moments, both in the first and second sets of the match and the fans got to see a visual treat.

Source THAINDIAN NEWS: www.thaindian.com

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

2010-01-02

[gotlost]

Maria always has fantastic form.

[kimincm]

Maria Sharapova beats Venus Williams hands down even if balls have nothing to do with the contest.

[junkofdavid2]

I'd gladly have Maria Sharapova beat me anytime.

Williams? hel_l no! Even if she paid me 5 million bahts!!!

[geriatrickid]

. I wonder if Hua Hin registered ground tremors every time Venus put her hoof down.

[Brunus]

Does anybody know what kind of visa they had? I am pretty good at tennis, I might apply for the same one.

[fullwhenempty]

Complete rubbish. The match was certainly NOT 'spectacular'. The author obviously wasn't there. I was and Venus was plainly lethargic and disinterested. Sharapova made more of an effort but there was nothing much to please the crowd, few rallies and a few spectators left before the doubles, including me. Both ladies wore pink, so the photo was not from the match.

Poor value for money. Hopefully, the doubles was better.

Edited January 3, 2010 by fullwhenempty

[Bagwan]

Quote :-

She was eager to taste the yummy Thai foods besides taking on her old time rival at Hua Hin.

Unquote

The Nation editing staff strike again. The word they were searching for, or mis-spelling, is yucky. I should think that she never gave what Thais throw down their necks a moments thought.

Anybody using the word 'old' in the same sentence as either of the Williams Goliaths has little regard for personal safety.

[sabaijai]

I was there, and thought both players put in as much effort as you would expect for exhibition tennis. I enjoyed the sets. The doubles match, where they were joined by mohawk-haired Paradorn and Danai, was also good fun.

[webfact]

Sharapova 'practises' to make merit

By LERPONG AMSA-NGIAM

THE NATION

Hua Hin

Published on January 4, 2010

Being the world's tennis No 1 and having a Grand Slam trophy is not new for cover girl Maria Sharapova - she has won three trophies - but making merit in the Thai way has been a totally new experience for the young Russian.

A day after her friendly match with Venus Williams on Saturday, the former world No 1 learned the traditional rite of giving alms to monks on the beach in Hua Hin - a good deed which should be blessing for her in the 2010 season.

Sharapova, who adjusted well to the heat here, which is similar to the atmosphere back home in Florida, was overwhelmed after the merit-making.

"I was looking forward to it. It's a new cultural experience for me. I'd been practising in my room last night to make sure that I would do it properly,'' said the 22-year-old, who leaves for Hong Kong today for another exhibition match.

For her part, Williams, after some training, was on a mission yesterday: to test her bargaining skills against local vendors. According to officials, she had learned a few Thai words from them and was looking for an indigenous meal.

Meanwhile, Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand Suwat Liptapanlop has been content with the organisation of the exhibition match and hopes to put it on the local tennis calendar every year.

"We spent around Bt20 million to organise the event and it was quite successful in terms of tourism. I plan to invite superstars for an exhibition match in major tourist cities every year,'' said Suwat.

-- The Nation 2010-01-04

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[mauiguy90]

Sharapova 'practises' to make merit

Being the world's tennis No 1 and having a Grand Slam trophy is not new for cover girl Maria Sharapova - she has won three trophies - but making merit in the Thai way has been a totally new experience for the young Russian.

"I was looking forward to it. It's a new cultural experience for me. I'd been practising in my room last night to make sure that I would do it properly,'' said the 22-year-old, who leaves for Hong Kong today for another exhibition match.

For her part, Williams, after some training, was on a mission yesterday: to test her bargaining skills against local vendors. According to officials, she had learned a few Thai words from them and was looking for an indigenous meal.

-- The Nation 2010-01-04

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Nice to see that Sharapova got into thai traditions while she was here in Thailand. Even if she never wins another tournament, she will be a megastar the rest of her life.

Venus Williams is #1 in my book. Unlike other tennis stars who have committed to play in Thailand tennis tournaments and then backed out never to show their faces again(Nadal, Federer, Roddick to name a few), Venus played in the Bangkok Open in a bug infested little tennis complex in the boonies without complaint. She played to crowds of no more of 300-400 people maximum and could easily have begged out, like so many of her fellow "pros". However, she played hard with no complaints even when many cheered against her and those that did called her "Wee-Nutt, Wee-Nutt". Those few expats that also saw her play (no more than 5 or so per match) know what I am talking about. Fortunately for us, she apparently likes Thailand. She probably encouraged Sharapova to come as well.

I for one appreciate that they bother to come, when they could choose to spend their holiday and off season time many other ways. Don't think that any of them deserve to be ridiculed when they come all this way to play a meaningless exhibition match. You can choose to do so, but then don't expect them to show up next time!

Edited January 4, 2010 by mauiguy90

[MrJohnson]

. I wonder if Hua Hin registered ground tremors every time Venus put her hoof down.

You might be surprised to know that Venus Williams is quite tall and trim. I saw her jogging along Hua Hin beach (with a minder) last week prior to the match and she looked in great shape. I'm not sure what all the chiding is about Venus - maybe some are confusing her with her much bigger and louder younger sister Serena. Anyway, I shouted out a "Hi Venus" as she passed by and she turned and gave me a wave and a big sweet smile.