Maria Sharapova Tennis Quotations

When I walk through that gate to the court, that's my escape. I block out everything, good and bad.

I've been playing against older and stronger competition my whole life. It has made me a better tennis player and able to play against this kind of level despite their strength and experience.

Tennis has given me this wonderful life and I'm very grateful for it.

I want my tennis to speak for everything.

If I'm nervous, it means I had to work hard to get there, whether it's playing in a tournament or speaking at an event. So I try to stop and be proud of getting to live in that moment.

I spent a whole year when I was injured just trying to get my arm back to the point where I could hit a tennis ball for more than 30 minutes a day. I'd hit for 15 minutes and it would feel as if my arm was going to fall off.

I'd love to open a tennis school for children in my hometown of Sochi.

The more matches I play, the more confident I get.

When I'm down or maybe when it's close in the match, I feel like I'm still in it. I don't feel like I'm letting down. Mentally, I'm still really, really tough.

I always have a Sharpie, because usually when someone asks me for an autograph, they don't have a pen. I carry one in my purse, as well as in my tennis bag.

After being on the court for six hours, being on TV is very glamorous and fun for me. But tennis is always going to be my priority. It's not going to be this thing when all of a sudden TV will get in the way of that.

To be honest, everything in my life outside of tennis is great. I'm doing amazing projects that, if I didn't have time off, I wouldn't be able to focus on.

Women's tennis players are getting as many sponsors and media coverage as men, and our TV ratings at the Grand Slams are pretty much equal to and often better than the men, so I don't understand the rationale for paying the men more than us.

Women's tennis is at such a high level now that any of the top 10 or 20 players could give me a tough match. Martina is on her comeback and no doubt will reach the top again but I don't have a specific rival here.

But strange things do happen in tennis and today's match was one of them.

I think everybody knows that the tennis season is way too long. I mean, it's about 10 and a half months of the year. I think a lot of the times with the scheduling fans don't know sometimes what tournaments are bigger than others. I think there needs to be a better structure on the tour.

I think for tennis players it would make our lives a lot easier.

That wasn't really a match for me. I was already in the semis, so I just wanted to save my energy. Obviously, she must be playing great tennis but I just need to go out there and step it up if I want to be in the semis.

You can be playing great tennis the past week, you come out and no matter how good you might have been playing, the level of tennis goes down the drain simply because of the wind.

Ive been playing against older and stronger competition my whole life. It has made me a better tennis player and able to play against this kind of level despite their strength and experience.

The WTA Tour and the ATP and the ITF and everyone that's in this whole tennis world needs to come together because I think each and every one of them is trying to make a business in their own little shell. In order to make this game bigger and better, I definitely think they need to come together.

Eight weeks ago, I wasn't sure if I was playing tennis again. So to be out here feeling healthy and being able to move and hit my shots, that part alone feels great to me, let alone actually playing well. So now all of a sudden I'm faced with the reality that I can actually go enjoy the Open this year because I'm doing a few things right, which is nice to feel. I like where I am right now.

I hope this event will serve as an opportunity to foster a boom in tennis in Korea.

I love to look elegant and this dress is very light and cool, ... The best thing about tennis is that you can wear cute little dresses and express your individuality.

I'll be seeing headlines: Maria can't get past the semis; Maria can't last the third set, I think it was a good match. I didn't come in the best prepared ... without many matches, to be able to play the quality of tennis I was able to play today is a big plus.

I played great tennis this week. It was a tremendous effort for me to be able to play two really tough matches yesterday and still play a high level of tennis today. In the first set it was just one or two balls didn't go my way I guess, and then after that I was physically tired from yesterday.

By using my name in a mobile gaming context, I hope that tennis fans will be able to share my passion, whatever the weather or conditions of play.

I do not have revenge on my mind, but I don't like losing to the same player twice in a row. Martina played some amazing tennis in Tokyo, but it is a different match tomorrow.

My shoulder's not where I want it to be, but I'm doing a good job of monitoring it.

Tennis has never been the most important thing in my life. My family, my health, my happiness...they are more important to me. On court, I want to win. Off court, I want to be a better person. Tennis is a path to my future.

I help design my own tennis clothes.

I'm not the next Kournikova-I want to win matches!

When you start from nothing, when you come from nothing, it makes you hungry. I am proud of where I came from and I know what I want. I want to win.

It's pretty hard being a tennis player and Mother Theresa at the same time and that's just the way it is.

A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesnt have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things they never thought possible.