Man, there sure are some goofy ideas that get posted around Sharapova. First of all, no serious tennis fan claims she is the best, but anybody who's paid any attention to her knows she's the last player in the WTA who would make "excuses" for herself or be afraid to play anybody (no player in the upper rankings is afraid to play another opponent--you wouldn't survive a week with that attitude). She said she was sick, therefore she was sick, end of story. She went to Montreal in good faith but decided it wasn't going to happen. Simple as that. Pulling out of Cincinnati pretty much validates all that. We're talking about one of the most competitive athletes in tennis (meaning mental toughness, desire to win, will to improve); she doesn't pull out of anything lightly.
The Olympics and Serena -- Maria got pasted, absolutely waxed by possibly the best of all time. Nobody gets that fact like Sharapova. I never heard anything from Sharapova later that suggested she was making excuses. She was asked questions about her virus or whatever it is. She said "I started feeling something the last day of the Olympics" (not quoting exactly). That's all. That's it. I don't find a hint in there of excuse-making. They asked the question, she gave them the information. What is the big freaking deal? What material is in that succinct little factoid that can generate so many theories and speculations and, in some case, drooling rants?
Once again I'll say this about being a Maria Sharapova fan: I'm a fan for a myriad of my own personal, subjective and utterly valid reasons, none of which are subject to anyone else's analysis or judgement. I find her a compelling player on the WTA because I find her a compelling player on the WTA. Period.
Oh...and bite me.
