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Q. Some people have described the courts as inhumane to play on. Others said they felt like they were going to die on court. How do you feel after that epic hot match?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, there is no way getting around the fact that the conditions were extremely difficult, and have been for the last few days.

It's a tough call. I mean, I think the question I have is no one really knows what the limit is. Not the players; the trainers themselves, when you ask them, When will the roof be closed?

No one actually knows what that number is in comparison to humidity or the actual heat. Sometimes you wish you know, because it's it just depends on I'm not sure who, a referee or the meteorologist, and there are just a lot of questions in the air that maybe, you know, should be solved.

Because I asked the trainer the other day, What does it take for the roof to be closed or matches to be stopped? She said, We have no control over this.



Q. Do you think it was unsafe to be playing out there in those conditions?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think at that point you're not thinking whether it's safe or not. You're trying to get through the match in the best possible way.

No matter how you're playing, you're trying to make it as safe as possible, yeah.



Q. Should the roof have been closed from the start of the morning, knowing it was going to be 44 degrees?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't know so much about from the morning. Maybe at 11:00 a.m. it wasn't as warm as towards the end of the match. But I think the question is from the second to the third set.

That's because everyone knows there is no tiebreaker in the third set, so once you start that set, you're going to be out there until you're done. That's the question I have.



Q. Can you tell what you say your body was saying to you? What feelings you had?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I mean, on one hand you're trying to get as much rest in between points as you can, but then you have an umpire who is giving you a time violation.

Then you're asking yourself whether that's fair, as well in whatever degree weather that was (Laughter.)

So there is that mixed emotion of, Okay, I need to get in the shade, but then I need to be there when the time is up to be able to serve or return or whatever it is.

There is a bit of pressure on the line, as well, in those conditions. Anywhere else, it's fine. You know, if that's the speed of the game that's absolutely fine. But in these conditions, I mean, let it go, but...



Q. In all the circumstances, how pleased are you with the way you battled through today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm really happy to get through. I really am. I worked really hard in the last few months and I wanted this match. I didn't play my best tennis; I didn't do many things well.

I got through it, and sometimes that's what's important. I did.



Q. After an incredible performance like this, does it ever go through your mind, you talk to yourself, What incredible toughness? I really gritted it out? Do you have a self pride? Talk about what goes through your mind about pulling through.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, in the moment you have so many mixed emotions because you have opportunities and chances, and then you're down and then you feel you're out. So you're going through all of this within these three hours or more.

I don't know. I went through all the different ones, like, How could you miss those second serve returns? Why are you going for so much? The other side of my brain, Well, it's 110 degrees. Of course you're going for too much (smiling).

I don't know. When you win match point you get off the court, no matter how you feel and how tough it was, I really I love these moments. That's why I play the sport.



Q. Do you congratulate yourself?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Not just myself, but my team. We worked really hard all together. Sometimes you've got to be really gritty to pull through no matter how tough it is. I think we all did it together.



Q. In 2007 you had that match against Camille Pin, 9 7 in the third. You were on IV for I think for three hours after that. Today was a lot longer and hotter. Does it say your fitness has much improved since then?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Maybe (smiling).



Q. Can you talk about it?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I would think so. I would think the game has become more physical. I think everyone has had to adapt to that and be stronger and work a lot off the court and prepare yourself for these types of situations.

It's always tough to know what to expect when you actually get in that type of moment, but the preparation you do beforehand is extremely important.



Q. After this huge game, how do you get back up for the next round?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Just recovery. Make sure the body will be ready. Take it easy tomorrow. That's the beauty of a Grand Slam: you have that day in between.



Q. Do you think the officials owe it to the players to tell you when enough is enough or to know when the roof can be closed? You talked about the confusion as to why it wasn't closed in the second and third set.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It would be nice. I mean, I would love to know a bit more detail before not even before I get on the court, but just in general it's good to know. I didn't even know there was no play when I left the court. I mean, I had no idea.

But it seems a little strange that the WTA Tour trainers don't know what that threshold is.



Q. Were you surprised by the way Knapp played? Did you know anything about her before?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I didn't. I never played against her or practiced. I thought she played really great tennis as the match went on.

I have seen some of her matches in the past, but I thought she played really great and played very free with nothing to lose. And she played a lot tougher, you know, than maybe other matches that I have seen her play.



Q. You looked up at your box today to Sven. What does he means to you at the moment?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: At that moment, I'm not really sure. I mean, there is not much communication going on there, but he's quite a calm personality. You know, he observes and takes it in.

You know, I love the team that's sitting there and, you know, and it would mean a lot to me to achieve, you know, a lot of things with all of them.



Q. How close do you think it was to being unsafe or unplayable today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's not for me to determine, because I had to play and I had to finish the match and do it the best I can. It's not the best conditions, but I don't want to complain.

Even if I lost the match that wouldn't be the reason, because there is still somebody across the net that's facing the same type of conditions.



Q. As a general concept, do you think players should perhaps be consulted a little bit more about conditions? I mean, you're the ones out there actually running around. Nobody sitting in a suit in here is doing that. Do you think perhaps there is enough communication with the players about the conditions?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not sure. That's a good question. I'm not sure there is.

We have never received any e mails or, you know, warnings about the weather or what to do.

Actually, I did receive one, I think, while I was in the ice bath a few minutes ago, and I was like, That's a little too late. (Laughter.) It was a little late.

It was probably when they were stopping the matches, like, Oh, maybe it's about time we sent out a warning (smiling).



Q. So is there are different type of satisfaction when you've won like a survival of the fittest type of contest?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think you have to admit that we all had to be pretty fit in order to be there in that last game, still competing the way that we were.

I don't think it was about who was the fittest. It was just about who was able to win two points. For her and I to be out there after three and whatever hours and still be able to display some points and run and hit, doesn't mean that she wasn't fit.



Q. You said you didn't know that the other matches had stopped when you came off. If it's deemed too hot to play, do you think matches should stop then rather than having to continue for the rest of the set?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not sure about that, but I think in the third set for the women and the fifth set for the men, if you know that there is no tiebreaker, you cannot officials can't just rely on maybe the set will go fast and the set will be over and will we will be off court, because we have no tiebreaker in that last set. So that's what you have to consider.



Q. So there should be some limit if you get to a certain amount of games?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think our match was an example of that. If it was a tiebreaker it would have been over quicker, but you can just keep going.



Q. In extreme conditions like this, do you think the rule for the amount of time between points a player can take should be extended or suspended?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think so. I think it should be for the safety of the players, definitely.



Q. Do you worry there might be repercussions for you in later matches because of the time you spent on court today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Listen, I was up a set and a break and I had many opportunities to finish the match faster. So I would have loved for it to finish faster, but that's what I got and I have to deal with the circumstances. I'm all right with that.

I'm a competitor here, and I worked hard to get through that match. I will have to work just as hard to get through the next ones.



Q. On a day when maybe your serve wasn't at its best, do you ever think, Just get it in, or is it always, Go full speed, plan A?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I think today a lot of it, not just the serves and second serve returns that I was missing that I shouldn't have that would have created so many opportunities for me.

But I think just the conditions didn't help in terms of being a little bit safer and not having to go for so much in those moments.

Q. Can we assume that you were fairly spent after the last match. Was it kind of a little bit tough to get through today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Of course everyone that played a long match in those conditions is going to feel physically and emotionally tired, and that's the way it goes.

You just have to find a way to get through it. You know, that's what I did. It was quite tough in the end. She had a set point and she had a chance to level the match out, which is something I probably wouldn't want to do, is go into a third set.

I was I was happy I was able to finish it in two.



Q. Did you change your normal preparation routine after what happened on Thursday to today, or was it just business as usual in the way you prepared?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I think it was just a lot more recovery, not so much the preparation for today.



Q. Each time you were challenged in the second set you were up a break on her back. You must draw a lot of strength on that on a day when your serve wasn't necessarily firing?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think I can take a few positives from this match. One being the fact that I was able to win it not playing my best tennis. There are definitely things I'm going to have to improve and do better moving forward, because it only is going to get tougher.

But, yeah, I am happy that I took my chances, you know, even though it was pretty close in that second set.



Q. You went to practice after the match?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uh huh.



Q. So basically you wanted to hit more balls? Are you feeling just a little bit lack of match play?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. I just didn't have a great rhythm. It's sometimes nice just to be able to come off the court and groove, just to get a good hit on the ball.

Conditions were a little bit tricky from one end, and, you know, balls were flying a bit. I just wanted to get a good rhythm again.



Q. Back to the match play, I think you have had three matches after Roland Garros last year and now six. Is that enough for you?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm hoping that it is. You know, I still feel like in certain situations I am a bit rusty and I'm not closing it out when I have to or maybe going for a little much or overthinking it a bit.

That will come. I'm not worried about that. Those are the as long as I feel like I'm doing the right things and I'm playing the way I want to play, if I'm making those types of errors, they are going to go in eventually.



Q. Can you tell us what sort of recovery is different after playing in 40 degree heat? Also, how long did it take you to actually feel normal again?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Just a lot more ice baths and a lot more like hand treatment and hot and cold baths. Just a lot of things. I was just really working my physio. He had a long evening.



Q. You raced to a great start in the first set. Would you say the second set, would you say it was a drop in intensity for you or did she play better?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: A little bit. I think it's a combination of both. I think there are a few different times where I think I could have taken control of the match. You know, one of those is in the third game of that second set where, you know, I felt like I was doing the right things, playing solid, you know, moving forward.

And then once I lost that game I think my concentration dropped a little bit. Then I got it going again. So there was a few ups and downs, and that's something that I definitely want to eliminate going forward.



Q. The Olympics is coming up real soon. I understand you're going to have a gig as a commentator with NBC. Can you talk about that? Excited about that?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Everyone seems to think I will be commentating on winter sports. I'm not a bobsledding expert (Laughter.) I will confirm I won't be commentating.

I'm going to be showcasing the city of Sochi to a worldwide audience, and we will be doing a few segments. I'm going to be with a few different co hosts around the city, in the village, and then I'm going to be a doing a few segments in the studio with Bob Costas, as well.



Q. There have been those gay related laws that have come into play, and Billy Jean, Martina, Blake, god number of people have spoken about that. What are your thoughts about that?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I have discussed the issue a couple of times, and quite recently when I did an interview for The New York Times. I said everything I wanted to say there about it.



Q. How is the shoulder going? Do you feel more confident with every game that it's A okay?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I have definitely had quite a few tests. You know, the back to back matches in Brisbane, three setter there, and then playing the next day, coming here, long matches.

I think these are all really good tests. As I said, I think recovery for the rest of my career is going to be extremely important, making sure I do the right amount of work to the right amount of rest that I give it.

But it's feeling good.



Q. Do you feel like you have been a little under the radar this week because you haven't played your best? Is it possible for you to go through a first week sort of unobtrusively a little bit?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't know if that's for me to judge. I got through the rounds that I have had to play so far, and I will be looking to hopefully be doing that continuously.



Q. Talk about playing Cibulkova. She's played you tough before. It's a totally different matchup than Cornet or Knapp.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Of course. She's a great retriever of the ball. It's going to be a very physical match. She likes to make it physical. That's when she plays her best.

Obviously I don't want to go there with her (smiling).

But, no, she's a tough opponent. That's for sure. She plays a lot of top players extremely well and tough and has nothing to lose, so I'm expecting a tough one the next round.



Q. Azarenka went on quite a bit talking about how wonderful her grandmother is and Casey Dellacqua did the same thing yesterday.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Who doesn't like their grand mothers? I mean... I mean, they cook, they clean, they tell you you're the best. What's not to like?



Q. There are some great old pictures of you being held by your grandma. Just talk about them.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, not the grandfathers? Just the grandmothers?



Q. Just the grandmas.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I know they are a little lazy. No, I have great grandmothers. Both of them live in one in Belarus and one still is in Russia. My mom's side mother, she comes to the United States quite a bit. Like once a year I try to force her to come, but my grandfather is usually not very happy about that.

They don't usually come at the same time, but it's really nice to see her. I think you have a lot of memories from your childhood growing up, and she's the one that raised my mother and you see so many similarities.

I love spending time with both of them.



Q. Azarenka's grandma came to LA. I think they went to Disneyland. How about sometime arranging a double date.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think my grandmother would refuse to go to Disneyland (smiling).



Q. You're older and than Grigor and a multiple Grand Slam champion. He's making his way up the rankings. Do you ever talk or joke about that rubbing off on him?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't know if that's a joke. Is it? I don't know. (Smiling). Which part of it is a joke, Doug?



Q. Well, do you ever discuss it?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: That's better. No, not really. We have a lot of different topics we discuss. That's not one of them.

Q. What was your health issue there at the end of the second set?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I have a bit of a strain the trainer told me in the hip area.



Q. How much was that troubling you?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I mean, those aches and pains are expected when you spend a long time on the court. Just have to play through it.



Q. When things weren't going your way in the second and third set, what were you telling yourself to get back into the contest?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I haven't been playing the best tennis of this tournament, but I found ways to get through to the last two matches.

Tried to do that again today, but she played extremely well.



Q. Is it the same hip issue you had at Wimbledon? Do you think it's the same area?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No.



Q. How do you rate her chances going forward?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: My chances?



Q. Her chances.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Her chances. Yeah, I haven't thought about it too much.



Q. When did the hip first start giving you trouble?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't know a particular moment, but I think it was just because I played a lot. This is only my second tournament back, so it was those types of things that are expected. Just have to find a way to block them out.



Q. Given that it's only your second tournament back, do you rate this as a success?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think it's a success in terms of that I'm back and that I'm healthy. That's quite important. Otherwise I wouldn't give myself a chance to play.

So on that note, yeah, I have to look at the positives and see where I have come from in four or five months. I haven't played a lot of tennis in those six months.

So I certainly would have loved to play a little bit more before playing a Grand Slam, but this is the chance that I was given. I'm smart enough to be able to take it and acknowledge that I'm still pretty lucky to be in the draw and giving myself a chance to try to win it.



Q. Will you quantify what the hip problem prevented you from doing the last two sets? Was it movement?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't think it's rocket science. Just when you play a lot of tennis, you're going to get these types of aches and pains and certain movements that you feel it on.



Q. Is it a little extra disappointing in light of Serena being out of the draw? Hopping this might be a real chance?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Not at all, no.



Q. How long does it take you to get over the disappointment? Like how long until you can start again or start looking forward to the next challenge?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: [] I have good self esteem when you speak. It's really nice.



Q. You too.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: What was the question? I was just admiring your form.



Q. Well, I admire yours. But in terms of disappointment, when you're dealing with disappointment, how long does it take you to, like, I have lost today, how long does it take?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's tough. I will be genuine about it. It's never easy. We are very big competitors. I think that's why I have been so successful, is because my competitiveness in the past.

It's moments like this that ultimately shape and you make you who you are, and that's how you bounce back. It's easy just to be successful, but it's how many times you're able to come back from the tough moments and losses and injuries that really define who you are as an athlete.

And that's why I'm here, because I believe I still can be up there and certainly can play better, that's for sure.



Q. Coming off not playing many matches the end of last year and already getting a fair number at the beginning of this year, are you planning on a full schedule this 2014, or are you thinking about phasing it out more maybe?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I have never played a typical full schedule maybe compared to other players. I have been really smart about my schedule, and I think that's worked for me in the past and I tried to stick to the same things.

Every year you have to adjust to how your body and your mind feels. Just because I missed, you know a large part of last year doesn't mean I'm going to make up for it with more tournaments. That's never been my thing.

But, you know, my schedule pretty much stays the same. I will probably be playing Paris instead of Doha, which I did last year.



Q. Because you played in such hot conditions earlier on in the tournament, do you think that might have taken a slight toll on your body?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I can't use that as an excuse.



Q. Can you talk a little bit about the second set? Topsy turvy. She raced to 5 0. You climbed back. Looked like the return game was maybe not your best return game of the match.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: That's being nice. Let's be honest (smiling).



Q. How big was that game for you? How big was that return game for you? Was that something she did or something on your racquet?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think she hit two second serves I should have made and I didn't. That would give her confidence and me not so much.



Q. Are you hard on yourself after losses like this?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm pretty good about perspective, but I'm much better since I had shoulder surgery a few years ago. Before I took them kind of hard, but after that I'm pretty lucky.



Q. I notice that you went to the practice courts right away before your last match. In the past I haven't really seen you that eager to be back on the court. You seem very motivated and you want to work hard. Is that something new for you, practicing more? Or practicing harder? And right after a match?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I mean, in that particular situation, I just wanted to get a good rhythm again, because I felt like I lost that throughout that match.

I don't know if it's any different. I mean, I came back from an injury and I feel happy to be to give myself that opportunity to try to get back and play well, and I want to take it.

I don't want to just because I know if I'm going to be sitting around everyone else will take it. It's either try and take it yourself, or just saying, you know, I can do other things in my life.

I have always been a go getter in my career, not just in tennis, and I still believe in that. I feel I have that type of motivation and drive, I'll always be there.



Q. Are you going to stick around Melbourne as long as Grigor is in?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You know what? I hope he stays as long as possible. I'm not sure what my traveling schedule is at the moment.

Q. How does it feel to be a candy magnate? Anything new we should know? Dennis give you a tough time about it? Anything sugar free?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Sugar free? With a name Sugarpova I don't think I will be doing anything sugar free very soon. There is your answer.

Q. You're kind of known as one of the fashionistas on the court. How has your style sense changed off the court?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Things changed a lot, because I used to wear pieces years ago that were not sold or produced. There were pieces, maybe materials that were, you know, coming from Italy that were quite expensive. So they are one offs where you could do something a bit different, edgier, pushed the boundaries a bit more. Ever since I have gotten my collection, you certainly have to tone things down a little bit, because that's something that will be worn on a 14-year-old girl or something that's woman's league, while overall trying to maintain that edge and differentiate myself from everyone else.

Q. When you were last here at the US Open, Sugarpova was a new company. How has it grown since then? What's that experience been like for you?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's been a really unique experience, because I had no experience coming into it. I feel everything that's come my way I have been able to learn from. We have grown tremendously in two years. We are in over 30 different countries now with exclusive distribution deals. For a new company, that's very, very rare. We are in different hotels. My goal is to keep it as premium as possible. I mean, from Four Seasons Hotel to unique boutiques around the world, Colette in Paris or somewhere in Asia. Yeah, it's very interesting. You learn, because it's candy. It's, you know, a certain amount of dollars per bag. Obviously the more money you're going to make is by the more bags you sell. At some stage you have to make decisions in terms of mass and where you want to go and the directions that you take. But it's been a lot of fun.

Q. Is your game where you were expecting at this moment, or are you still searching for...

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think if there is a time to bring the game that I want to, it's definitely now (smiling) for the next few weeks. I wasn't happy with the way I started the hard court season. As the weeks progress, I'm certainly feeling better. It was great to have this week of practice here. You know, the courts are a little bit faster again, so it was good to come here a little bit early and to get that time on the courts. But overall, yeah, I think little by little things will shape into place.

Q. Do you prefer at this point a faster hard court or a slower hard court with your game and how it's evolved?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think a faster court can have a higher bounce or a slower court can have a lower bounce. It always depends on the place and the weather. I don't think I have ever really had a preference on hard court. I actually like when the court is a bit faster.

Q. With all of your fashion ventures and with the business ventures you have had, how do you deal with that during a tournament? Are you taking business e-mails during a tournament, or do you say for these two weeks I can't be reached and I will deal with it after?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't usually get my e-mails during tournaments (smiling). I sometimes want to, but I don't. People know better.

Q. Your psychological fortitude has always been probably one of the best parts of your overall game. Do you think you were born with that?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not really sure. That's a question I have been asked before, but I think it's also life circumstances that you go through, that you work through, and learn from. Also by the people that you're surrounded by and what you learn, how you go through making decisions. You know, I have never really had an easy journey to this step of where I am today. From my days in Russia to even now we always go through challenges and adversity. I think we're still not sitting here today saying I'm the strongest person or physically or mentally, because I always want to improve and be better and make myself a better person.

Q. What are your thoughts on your first-round opponent, your history with her and the path her career has taken?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, she hasn't played in a while. That's what I know. But I also know we have had a lot of tough matches in the past. She's a very dangerous opponent, someone that's capable of playing really great tennis. She's beaten me before in her career. Yeah, I'll definitely have to be ready.

Q. What is it that makes her dangerous? What is it about the way she plays?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, she makes you hit a lot of balls. She's a great mover on the court. She uses a bit of variety, as well, in her game. But I guess we'll see on Monday.

Q. I saw you the last time in Stuttgart. You were the face of the tournament. Had to do so many things for the sponsors. What is more stress for you, being at Stuttgart at the tournament where you have to do every day something different it seems like for a sponsor or being at a Grand Slam tournament?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, it worked out pretty well for me, so maybe I should do little more things (smiling). I'm very experienced and I have been doing this for a few years to know how to structure a schedule. The week before a Grand Slam I usually do a lot of my appearances in the beginning of the week leading up to the US Open and not towards the end of it or the weekend before. Time commitment, practice schedule, you know, sometimes it changes. You feel differently every year in every tournament. Overall, I think we have done -- my team has done a really good job of facilitating the schedule and making sure once the tournament starts I have had already five days of rest and recovery.

Q. One of the things us tennis masses learn when we watch you is what you do when you're not on the ball, when you walk off a point...

MARIA SHARAPOVA: When I'm not on the ball?

Q. When you're not striking the ball.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, okay.

Q. When there is down time on the court. You'll walk, turn around, have a quiet moment. What goes on in those quiet moments?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It depends on the situation and what is going on in the match. If you're doing well, it's just kind of the inner voice to keep going and keep that focus. If you feel like you have had a bit of a drop and you lost that, it's words of encouragement or it's a time to just yell at yourself within yourself. It just depends on the situation.

Q. With all the ventures you have had in terms of business, is there something comforting knowing whenever you decide to finish your career, years down the line, you have other opportunities and ventures that you feel passionate about and can go forward with?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I guess I do. That's always scared me. As I was youngster in my career, because you live and breathe tennis from such a young age, you're never really exposed to other things in life because you commit so much of your time and dedicate of your days a year without being able to educate yourself on another subject or have a proper school room education or work with other people in different areas. I have been able to do that and work around my career to really set myself up for things in the future. Because I certainly have the opportunity to do nothing, but that's never really been my character. I have always loved working. I love -- I'm still very young. I have passion and energy to succeed in other things. I certainly hope that I'll have time and still that passion and drive for when I'm done.

Q. You mentioned your first opponent, Kirilenko, hasn't played for a while. Do you see that as an advantage coming into the match?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, you never know, because I think it's also an opportunity for someone like that to come in and have no expectations because they haven't really played a match and to go out and swing away and not put, you know, a lot on yourself, not expect much from yourself. Sometimes that's a very dangerous opponent.

Q. Ten-year anniversary last time you played mixed doubles here.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh. What a stat (laughter). That's why we have journalists, for stats.

Q. I don't expect you to be entering this year, but if you were, who would your partner be at this point in your career?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Can we bring Johnny Mack back? Okay, I'd love that.

Q. He would do it.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Not with me probably.

Q. He would.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm a little -- I have too much focus on the court for him. Maybe he'd bring out my wild side. I don't know.

Q. What would that look like?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not sure (laughter).

Q. Follow up on your business. I'm curious if the major conglomerates have come to you, the Mars, the Nestles, the Hersheys? Curious if they have approached you.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, we do attend a few of the candy shows during the year where the big players are also in attendance. We're like the mom-and-pop booth and they're like basically take over the whole show. We have had a lot of interest from others, but I still want to carry the business in my hands because it's my baby. It's how I started. I'm far from ready to give it to anyone else.

Q. You were 4-2 down in the first set and then came back.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, you know, I thought there was a few times where I could have broken her in the beginning of the match. But I think she started off playing well and solid. Despite not taking those opportunities in a couple of her service games, I felt pretty good, especially towards the end of the match.

Q. You have a great record in night matches on Ashe. Is there a reason for it? Is it just a coincidence?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I'm not really sure because this is usually the time where I'm sleeping already, so I don't know. You'd actually think it was the opposite. I think in the beginning of my career, it was always a bit more challenging because I didn't really know how to adjust to what I should do during the day, how do I prepare for that. But I've certainly learned a lot, just know what to expect. I know the waiting game a little bit better than I did when I was a junior or a young teenager. But now I really enjoy it. I think you feel the goosebumps when you go out on a night match on Arthur Ashe.

Q. Does it still feel big to you every time you walk out there?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It does. It's just full of energy. Yeah, they're loud and passionate. You just feel the sports lovers are there.

Q. You go back such a long way with her. I know you can't afford to be sentimental out there, but...

MARIA SHARAPOVA: We spent a lot of time in the juniors away from the courts practicing a lot together, competing against each other. We certainly have a big history together. But when you go out on the court, it's always that fine line between, of course you want to be the winner, you have to face that person as a competitor, not someone that you've known for years and developed a friendship with. It's always a tricky balance, I guess.

Q. With the slow start, was there a problem with focus early on?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I actually felt like I set up some good opportunities for myself and just didn't take advantage on her serve and ended up making a few errors on mine, and that cost me the break. But I was able to turn that around pretty quickly.

Q. Is your fitness preparation different before the US Open than the Australian Open or French Open? Do you do different things?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Because of the courts or...

Q. Because of the courts, the weather.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I think, you know, every Grand Slam is different because you always get a little bit of a different court time, in terms of the arena, in different arenas you have space where you can do a little bit more fitness, or the gym is a little bit bigger or smaller, so you always have to adjust. I wouldn't say it's dramatically different.

Q. You've been good on clay the past few years. What do you find the difference for you is between clay and hard?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think maintaining the good balance between being aggressive but not overdoing it. I always play my best when I'm moving, feel like I'm hitting my shot, moving forward, taking the next one out of the air or hitting an approach shot. Sometimes when you try to create those opportunities you go for a little bit more than you want to. So it's about finding that good range.

Q. If you were in charge of the sport and could change any rule on the court, any rule about play, do you have any pet peeves about rules or practices that you'd like to change if you had the opportunity?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'd probably start charging for medical timeouts (smiling). I think we'd all see who really uses them and who doesn't. Yeah, I don't know what we put on it, maybe like 2500 or something. Yeah, I think we should do that. That would be fun.

Q. When you start a match at 8:00, how far in advance do you practice? Do you spend the day onsite?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't, yeah. I usually just get here to warm up before the match.

Q. Given your history with injury, when somebody takes a medical timeout, is it hard for you to handle that mentally? Do you get concerned?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I think you have a little bit of a stop. It depends. Sometimes they're shorter than others. Sometimes they don't go through the whole medical timeout. Sometimes the evaluation itself is longer than the three-minute timeout. Sometimes it's an off-court medical, which is even longer. I think from my end it's just a matter of keeping that focus, you know, not sitting down for that whole time, moving a little bit, swinging, maybe hitting a few serves if it's a longer one.

Q. For the medical timeouts, is it just cooling off that bothers you, or is it the distraction of wondering what the other player's motive is?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, it's actually never bothered me because I've always recovered from it very positively. I don't remember many times where it's affected me too much. I've never really felt like a victim of it.

Q. You're pretty good at tunnel vision during matches, keeping focused. Do you notice things like Alec Baldwin sitting in the front row?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I had no idea.

Q. He caught a ball.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Congratulations (laughter).

Q. It was not an easy one today, especially the first two sets. What was the main issue?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think it was a combination of everything. She played really well. Although I started off really good in the first couple of games, didn't take the opportunity to go up 3-0. After that she started getting a little bit of a rhythm. It was difficult. Obviously the conditions were tough. You start in the sun; you finish under the lights. It was a very long match. Overall I felt like in the end I was in much better shape than she was and I could have played another few sets. Mentally that helped me a lot.

Q. Does your routine that you have behind the baseline, is that a way to get you focused? You developed that over the years.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I've had that routine for a long time. Everything is very quick. You go from point to point. You're playing in front of thousands of people. Sometimes it's nice to have a little bit of a quiet moment with yourself. That's the reason I started doing it. Whether you're having a good run with a few games and you want to keep that going and keep that going and keep yourself motivated or you need a little pick-me-up, regain focus if you're down.

Q. You're playing Lisicki next round.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: She's a great player. She's a very powerful, aggressive player. I expect a tough match from her.

Q. Can you tell us something about your cooperation with Sven Groenefeld.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's been a great partnership so far. We met this time last year. At the time I was still going through injuries so I didn't quite know when I would be back. But I was very interested in working with him because of his experience. He's been on the tour for many, many years. He's coached against me. A lot of good things. Positive attitude that he brought to practice, to the environment. He's a leader but listens to everyone in the team, which is very important. At this stage in my career, I'm quite happy with the team that I formed.

Q. He's quite energetic in the box. Do you like that?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't think he was like that before. I think I just make everybody energetic (smiling). I don't think they have a choice.

Q. Do you come away from a match like today focusing more on what maybe didn't go right at the beginning or being pleased with how you finished?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think you always expect yourself, no matter who you're playing, the conditions, you always want to play well, win the match easy. Sometimes it's good to kind of look back and think in these types of situations, conditions, all of that. It's really good to get through, put yourself in a really tough position, but then you're able to find a way to get back and finish really strong.

Q. Big-picture question. You've had all these years on the tour competing. One challenge after another. Successful in the business world. What is the best part of being Maria Sharapova these days?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think the best part this day is that I'm healthy enough to compete at this level. That's the most important thing for me, looking back at this time last year. You seem to forget that I was in New York, I was in a hotel room, I was going to a few different doctors, I was getting a few different opinions, different machines, different MRIs, and different treatments. It's so easy to forget that you get yourself back in such a great position in your career where you win a Grand Slam, you're playing the US Open, which you missed last year. So a lot of positives. Yet I get to do other great things in my career and set up my life for when I'm finished with tennis.

Q. Do you ever say to yourself before a big match, This is pretty sweet; I'm pretty fortunate?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Absolutely. Especially when you're walking through the tunnel of all these incredible tournaments. They're all very different, but there's such a unique vibe in every single one of them. You realize that, you know, of course it's always tough to have those early mornings and practice on the backcourts where no one is watching. That's really where you have to push yourself. To go in front of thousands people and perform, that's really what I work for.

Q. Michael Jordan was here yesterday to see Roger Federer play. Roger said he was a huge inspiration for him as a child. When you were growing up, who were you looking up to in the same way?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, actually I met Michael Jordan a few years ago randomly, unexpectedly, at an airport. Usually I don't get very star struck, but he's such a powerful person and athlete. I think he has that aura about him. It's very special. He's like, Hey, you're that tennis player. I'm like, Oh, my goodness, Michael Jordan knows who I am. So, yeah, that was unique (smiling).

Q. Do you think you're in your best shape at the moment or do you think there's still room for improvement and recovery?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think physically I'm in a very good position. I think that's shown a lot in my three-set statistics this year. I think I played more at this point in the year than I have in all of my career. The numbers are quite high, and I've been able to recover quite well. I don't think that's something that I would have been able to do and recover from as quickly as I'm able to today. But I think that takes a lot of work and obviously commitment. Whatever it is, hours on the court, hours in the gym, it's just finding that combination to get yourself in that good shape.

Q. Mentally, it struck me you had a long wait after the second set, and then you had a long wait while she had a medical timeout. You seemed to handle it very well. Is that an improvement? Did that used to bother you more?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I think it's always a matter of just, you know, moving, not stopping and sitting around for five, six, seven minutes. It's always just kind of getting your body going, resting a couple minutes sitting down. Whether it's hitting a few serves, doing a few movements or motions, just to make sure that your body and your mind is still active. It's very easy to have a little bit of a letdown if you're just sitting around for that amount of time.

Q. Does it ever occur to you, I could lose this? I could be in trouble? Or given all of the success and experience you have in three-set matches, you don't feel worried at this point?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Of course experience certainly helps, but she's a player that's been on the tour for many years. She has her fair share of experience as well. But I felt that I was physically stronger today. No matter the conditions or the errors, being frustrated, I knew that in the end I was in better shape.

Q. How does your pop-up store here in hustling, bustling New York compared to the pop-up shop in sedate Wimbledon?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: A little different.

Q. Are you pleased it's been so successful?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I am. The pop-up shop here is a little different, a little smaller, because it's part of a hotel's coffee shop, rather than at Wimbledon we created something from scratch in our own space. It's a little tougher to do in New York, especially on Fifth Avenue. I am really happy. We've had great partnerships since the beginning of the year with the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, with Pinkberry. We're definitely growing. A lot more exciting things to come.

Q. What hotel?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: At the Andaz.

Q. Seemed like your serve wasn't there for a while.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it wasn't. But it felt like I needed to compensate with other parts of my game, and I think I did a good job of that. Because she's a very dangerous and tricky opponent, and she's capable of playing really well at the slams and always raising her level against the top players. That was something I was very well aware of. I thought I stepped up to the challenge.

Q. What do you think about your next matchup [against Caroline Wozniacki]?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: She's having a really good summer so far. She's really raising her level to where she wants it to be. Although we haven't played in a while, we have played against each other many times. No secrets on our games. We've been on the tour for many years, so I expect a tough match, a physical match. She always makes you hit a lot of balls, gets a lot of balls back. Yeah, it's going to be a tough match.

Q. It was a pretty intense match tonight. Both of you were fighting a lot. What do you think made the difference?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, against a big server and an aggressive player like her, it's sometimes just a matter of a few points. Return is obviously very important. I thought I did a good job of getting some of her good serves back and making her hit an extra ball. Of course, it's always tense because she's capable of playing really good tennis. In the end I was just happy I was able to break her back in that game.

Q. What did you make of the back and forth between her and the chair umpire over whether she was getting coaching help?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I actually had no idea what the talk was about.

Q. Do you think coaching should be allowed at Grand Slam tournaments?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm happy with the way it is right now.

Q. How is your level right now?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm happy I finished the match in two sets. I had a very tough, physical, two and a half hour match a couple days ago, so I was glad I was able to finish this one a bit quicker and give myself more time to recover for the next one.

Q. So many upsets so far. Does that have any impact on you when you see other top players going out early?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Quite honestly, I have to follow my own path. Of course, you know, I'm not someone that doesn't look at the draw. I usually follow the draw. I enjoy watching matches occasionally when I have some time, some free time. I did see some of the results. Of course, that's why we always play the matches. You always have favorites going into the tournament. The reason there's so many players is because we have to go out and win those matches and compete. There's a reason everybody puts the net up in the morning. It's for us to go out and challenge ourselves. There have been a few upsets, and certainly happy that I got through today.

Q. Any upset that surprised you the most?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: The most? Not really sure, no.

Q. What did you think were the keys to this result today?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it was quite a long match. Yeah, making a long story short, I felt like in the end of the first set made a few sloppy errors to lose that first set in the end. Was happy with the way I turned things around and started playing a bit more aggressive. Got in the points with her. In the third set I stopped doing that. Allowed her to get back in those long points, long rallies, and ultimately went for the shots that created errors.

Q. What were your thoughts on her game today?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I thought she played really well. She made me hit a lot of balls. That's always been her strength. But she did extremely well today. She's a great retriever, especially in these types of conditions. I just felt like I maybe went for a little too much.

Q. Do you see any special reason why you maybe struggled more than usual on court this summer?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. I created opportunities for me, for myself, to win these matches. Today was just an example of not doing it, not continuing and following through what changed things around in the second set. But, no, not one thing in particular.

Q. What were the conditions like out there? It seemed very muggy, very hot. Did that affect you at any point?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It was warm, it was windy, but that's -- we're in New York; it's summertime. Arthur Ashe is known to have windy conditions. I have played here for many years and I know what to expect. That didn't really affect me much today.

Q. You played phenomenally in the second set. Did your level decrease at all in the third set or did Caroline raise her level in the third set?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think I just stopped doing what helped me get advantage of the points in the second set. I hit a good shot and I allowed her to get back in the point instead of looking to come in. Whether I hit a swinging volley or hit a approach shot, give myself a advantage situation. She's very good at getting a lot of balls back and making you hit another one. In the end, I went for a little too much.

Q. Are you ever distracted in any way by your box? I mean, it seems like there are very few people in your box.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: There always is.

Q. Always is?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah. I don't have a big entourage.

Q. Seemed like they were reacting quite vociferously in that third set. Are you distracted by that in any way?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. I always love when the box is able to bring you energy. Obviously you spend so much time with the guys that are there supporting you, so it's always nice to have their back no matter the situation.

Q. Your loss here leaves only two of the top eight seeds in the tournament. You have been a victim in other slams. Can you talk about what's going on in women's tennis?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, that's a very large question, I'd say. I'm not a specialist in what's going on. I can only speak for myself. Today just didn't go my way; I'm out of the tournament.

Q. Are you surprised that some of the other top players are gone?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's a long season. There are a lot of tournaments. There's a lot of depth on the tour. You can never underestimate any opponent that's in front of you. I think that's shown in the last few Grand Slams.

Q. You said you stopped doing what was working the second set. (Indiscernible.)

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, consistency, keeping that same intensity, and just not bringing it in the third set.

Q. Did something happen after the 10-minute heat delay that caused you to come back on the court late? Something going on?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not actually really sure what happened. I was told we need to go back on the court, and I did. Then I got a time violation. But that didn't really matter.

Q. Obviously your Grand Slam season is now over. There were some tough bumps in the road, including today. You'll always have Paris. How would you assess, I mean, the Grand Slam season for you? Just winning the French, is that just enough to make it really a sweet year, or what is your assessment?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, right now after losing in a Grand Slam it's tough to look back and, say, talk about a sweet victory. Of course it's certainly nice to have. In that run that I had, there was a lot of things behind me. I was close to getting out of the top 10 in every single match I played, starting in Stuttgart. There was a lot on the line for me and I performed really well and I brought it. The other Grand Slams I just wasn't able to do that in the later parts of the matches. Of course that's disappointing, but overall it's great to have that victory in Paris. Right now it doesn't make it any better.

Q. Now that the slam season is over, do you turn your interest to the business ventures we spoke about? Do you put more time into it?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, not really, because the next tournament is quite soon actually. It's only a couple of weeks, I believe, after the US Open. It's in Asia, so, you know, it's a very quick turnaround. Just got to get ready for that.

Q. What are your thoughts on Caroline's evolution as a player? The thing you pointed out her as a retriever has been constant forever. What changes, if any, do you see in her game?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: More consistency. Able to do it better. Someone has a strength that, you know, sometimes players look to improve their weaknesses. I think her strength has improved incredibly well. I think that's the flood warning. (In response to phones going off.) Darn it. If I was only there a little longer (laughter).

Q. Before you were so rudely interrupted, about Caroline's game, the evolution in it...

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Does the press conference ever get interrupted by flood warnings or lightning?

Q. The answer is yes.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, really? Okay.

Q. Caroline's game, what have you seen in the way of changes?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think she's better at what she's done really well in her career. I think she's moving extremely well; she's fit. I mean, she's always been fir, but there is a little bit more on her defense shots. It's not just balls up in the air. She's doing a little bit more with them. But she did that really well today.

Q. She's running a marathon. Do you feel like that's helped her game at all? She's been defending even better.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I can only speak for myself. I know if I was getting ready for a marathon it wouldn't help me, but everyone is different (laughter).

Q. One of your obvious strengths is when you come back from when you're down. You have done it over and over again. But not today. Could you just elaborate on that a little bit?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Just doesn't always happen, I guess. Didn't happen today. I came back from losing the first set. I found a way. I found something different. Stepped it up and was more aggressive. I just didn't have that in the third set.

Q. What kind of goals can you fix for yourself for the end of the season? Is it easy to find new goals after a Grand Slam season?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's much easier. I always find more motivations after matches like this, because I always say that if you're not disappointed or if you don't feel that you could improve on something, coming off of a loss you think that everything went well for yourself, then you're never going to get better. You're never going to encourage yourself to keep going. I certainly never felt that way. There is a lot more work to be done, a lot of pluses to be taken away. There is a lot of things that I feel I will work on.

Q. Now that your time as a competitor is done here, how will you be spending the rest of your time in New York? Staying at the Open? Switching focus? Fashion?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I will probably be training really soon because the tournaments are ahead of us.

Q. What's your interest in watching the rest of the women's draw?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I love watching the sport, so of course -- when you're out of the tournament it's not so interesting anymore (smiling), but I do enjoy watching. I'm sure I might. If I have time. Can't guarantee it.

Pierwsze miejsce w rankingu to coś wielkiego, ale nie koncentruję się na tym. Dla mnie priorytetem są zwycięstwa - stwierdziła Maria Szarapowa, która nowy sezon rozpocznie w Brisbane.
- Miło jest wrócić do Brisbane. W zeszłym roku grałam tutaj po raz pierwszy. To jeden z najlepszych turniejów w Tourze i świetne miejsce, żeby przygotować się do dalszej części sezonu - mówiła na konferencji prasowej przed startem turnieju Brisbane International Maria Szarapowa.

Druga tenisistka świata w stolicy stanu Queensland może znacząco zmniejszyć stratę do liderki klasyfikacji WTA, Serena Williams. Amerykanka nie będzie bronić tytułu, ponieważ zadecydowała się na grę w Pucharze Hopmana w Perth, i z jej dorobku zostanie odpisanych 470 punktów. Jeżeli Szarapowa zwycięży w Brisbane, będzie tracić do Williams 705 punktów.

- Serena ma 33 lata, ale nadal jest bardzo silną tenisistką. W każdym meczu pokazuje swoje wielkie doświadczenie. Miała znakomitą końcówkę ubiegłego sezonu. Myślę, że gdy ktoś zajmuje pierwsze miejsce w rankingu, nie można o nim mówić, że jest na krawędzi - oceniła 27-latka z Niagania.
- Pierwsze miejsce w rankingu to coś wielkiego, ale nie koncentruję się na tym. Dla mnie priorytetem są zwycięstwa - dodała była liderka światowego rankingu.
Szarapowa w tenisie zdobyła niemal wszystko i właśnie rozpoczyna 14. rok zawodowej kariery. - Mam wiele powodów, by rzucić tenis. Ale jak na razie tego nie zrobię. Jestem tu i chcę grać najlepiej, jak potrafię - stwierdziła.
Pięciokrotna mistrzyni wielkoszlemowa nowy sezon rozpocznie meczem z Sabiną Lisicką. - Sabina to zawsze bardzo trudna przeciwniczka, ale ja chcę dobrze rozpocząć rok. Jestem tutaj z tym samym zespołem ludzi, co w zeszłym sezonie. Przez ten czas wiele się o sobie nauczyliśmy - powiedziała reprezentantka Rosji.

BRISBANE, Australia - Maria Sharapova kept her fantastic start to the 2015 season going Thursday, breezing past Carla Suárez Navarro in straight sets in the Brisbane International quarterfinals.

Sharapova had had trouble with Suárez Navarro before - she lost to her just last summer at the Rogers Cup in Montréal. But this time it was no contest as the No.1-seeded Russian broke serve five times and needed just an hour and eight minutes to send the No.7-seeded Spaniard packing, 6-1, 6-3.

"We went back and forth with our victories in 2014 so I'm always a little bit aware of girls that I lose to," Sharapova said after the match. "I certainly know that she's capable of playing really well, though. She plays defense great and makes you hit a lot of balls. Especially on a slower court like here, you just don't want to give her that much time to play her game. I thought I did a good job of that today.

"Maybe I made a little too many unforced errors in the beginning, but I finished strong."

Awaiting Sharapova in the semifinals will be WTA Rising Star Elina Svitolina, who rallied from 6-4, 3-0 down to upset No.3 seed Angelique Kerber earlier in the day, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. It was the third Top 10 win of the Ukrainian's career - she previously scored wins over Kerber and Petra Kvitova last year.

"I was just trying to fight, and that's the only thing I was trying to do," she said. "I wasn't thinking about the score. I was just trying to play every single point as the last one. That was the only thing I was really thinking about, to rally with her and find my game again, and to find my forehand again."

Sharapova beat Svitolina in the pair's only previous meeting, and in straight sets too, but this one could be different - Svitolina seems to be even more motivated going into this encounter on Friday.

"I'm looking forward to it," Svitolina said. "It's always great to compete against these players. You see what you need to improve. I'll try and fight as I did today, and hopefully I can win tomorrow."

"She's a young girl that's already in the Top 30 with a tremendous amount of potential, and someone you'll be seeing in the top very soon," Sharapova said. "She definitely has a good game. She's an all-around player. It'll be a tough match-up for me, but one that I'm looking forward to, actually."

The other two quarterfinals took place later in the day, with No.2 seed Ana Ivanovic battling almost two hours to get past Kaia Kanepi, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, and Varvara Lepchenko coming back from 4-2 down in the second set to close Russian lucky loser Alla Kudryavtseva out in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5.

Ivanovic beat Lepchenko in their only previous meeting, at Beijing in 2012, though it was a very close one - Ivanovic was down 6-4, 5-3 and double match point but came back to prevail in three.

Q. You played a great match today. Is it easier to get through the disappointment through such a good performance?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Look, it's always tough getting to a final stage of an event where it's down to two players and you end up become the one that's going home with the smaller trophy, there's no doubt about it. No matter how you played, well or not, whatever the scoreline is, it's always tough. But it will be all right.



Q. Where do you think you played well tonight and where do you think you fell short in the finish?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I mean, in the finish I definitely thought I could have put a few more serves in in the tiebreaker. Giving her many looks on the second serve. Even though they were good, deep second serves, she was ready. Aggressive. She hit a couple of winners. Then some of the service games where I had 15-30 or 30-All, she came up with really big serves, ones I sometimes couldn't get my reach at. Those you just have to let go and keep going.



Q. She served so well tonight. How hard is it for you to read that serve and how much do you feel like you're guessing where she's going in the box?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, look, that's one of her biggest strengths is her serve. Maybe it's something that has saved her in many matches, situations where you cannot get the racquet on the ball. You have to let that go. And if you're able to get in the point somehow, make it a little bit easy for yourself, there is -- I didn't feel that I had many of those chances to get in the point. When the games on her serve were 30-All, 40-30 or 15-30 a few times, she came up with really great serves.



Q. How do you rate that serve stroke compared to any other shot in the women's game?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, it's definitely much faster. There's a few, just very limited amount of players that serve in that speed range as she does consistently. She finds the corners extremely well, yeah.



Q. You saved match points earlier in the tournament. You said you were very proud of how you fought that. When you saved those two championship points today, did you have the confidence that you felt things might turn around for you?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I wasn't just going to let her hit a winner to win the match. I really wanted to go for it and I wanted to do everything I could to stay in those games and stay in that match. You know, on the last one, couldn't do much to get that ball.



Q. Technically off the ground how do you feel about how you're able to hang in the rallies with her?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think that's something that I feel personally I've improved in the last year or so where I feel much more solid on the ground and I'm not afraid for it to be a physical match. I think when I did have the opportunities to get in the rally I think I handled it quite well, but there's not a lot of time in important situations where I could get in the rally.



Q. You talked about not being drawn into the aggressive style of play that she has. How happy were you with executing the plan you went in with?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, as much as I would love to hit a 200 kilometer an hour serve, I just don't think that's feasible with my shoulder. There's a lot of things I'd love to do in this world but I can't; that's just the reality of it. But in terms of getting to the point, yeah, there's definitely a few times where I rushed and made a few errors, but I don't think as many as in my previous matches against her.



Q. Five slams, what you've done on clay court tennis, your record against many players, yet this discrepancy with Venus, this difficulty -- Serena, I'm sorry -- just talk about that. Is it frustrating you haven't been able to break through for so long? At a certain place does it bother you?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Look, I actually believe that we attract what we're ready for. Yes, I haven't won against her many times, but if I'm getting to the stage of competing against someone like Serena, I'm doing something well. I'm setting up a chance to try to beat her and it hasn't happened. I'm not just going to go home without giving it another chance. That's just not who I am and not who I was raised to be. I'm a competitor. If I'm getting to the finals of Grand Slams and setting myself up to play a match against Serena, I mean, I know it sounds -- maybe you're telling me I'm wrong -- but I'm happy to be in that position. I love the competition. I love playing against the best, and at the moment she is.



Q. Andy Murray told us earlier he's very proud of his own achievements because of the kind of competition around him. Do you have that sense as well, achieving everything you have achieved?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, look, over the last 10 years her and I have been out of the game. Sometimes she was injured for a period of time; I was out for a year. So, yeah, between all of that, between and around it, we've been able to play a lot of great matches against other players. I'm proud to be part of an era where she's in.



Q. Do you feel like you're getting closer to getting that win?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: If I keep setting up myself chances, absolutely.



Q. How would you sum up these last two weeks then?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Look, I mean, it's disappointing now. It's 45 minutes after the match. It's always tough to sit and speak in front of the press about a loss. But, look, I'm happy with the way I've handled a few of the matches here, how I've come back strong, how I've set myself up to try to win another major. It's not easy to get to the final of a Grand Slam. It takes a lot of work. It's over the course of two weeks. That's a good achievement. It's a good start to the year. The year is very young at this point.



Q. You've played here till the very end. Is Fed Cup still in your plans? If yes, how many matches would you like to play in Krakow?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yes, it's still in my plans. I'm very much looking forward to the 30-hour flight I'm taking to Krakow tomorrow. A very convenient travel itinerary, too. It's like minus eight, so that's even better. Love the climate, love the travel (laughter). I haven't gone to the match count yet, but all those other things are great. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it (smiling).



Q. Obviously your father played a critical role in your whole tennis life. Do you remember going on his bicycle and going to the academy in the early years? Talk about those times.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, yes, I remember that bicycle. I remember that basket that I really liked. He had to throw it away because I needed to sit where the basket was. I thought the bicycle looked much better with the basket on. Yeah, those days were definitely -- yeah, I take the time sometimes to think about that, think about where you came from, the hurdles you had to go through. That was definitely one of them. But, yeah, he was a tough cookie. He inspired me very much and kept me motivated. It was really, really great to have him by my side for so many years in my career. Still consider him close, a good friend, and a father at the end of the day.



Q. We see you fight so hard in that match; especially the second set the quality was so high and you work so hard for that.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, look, I like setting up those situations. I like the battle, I do. I mean, it's frustrating to be the one going home, as I said, with the small trophy. But I do love the battle. I love high-quality tennis. I love being part of it. It's a lot better than watching it on TV. It's nice to be in the moment.



Q. In the second set you were hitting with so much depth and you seem to be in control of the rallies against Serena. Do you feel that adding another facet to your game, like a better net game, would help you get over the line against her?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think first you have to create the angles and you have to create the deep balls to get the short ball from her. She gets many balls back. She not just gets them back, but she's a good defensive player as well. A lot of people talk about how aggressive she is. But she's able to create many angles, many deep shots off of the defense. That's not always easy to come in on.

KRAKOW, POLAND: Maria Sharapova produced her best to see off Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets and claim the decisive point as four-time champion Russia beat Poland 4-0 to book its place in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals.

Sharapova hit 39 winners to Radwanska’s 16 as the Russian won 61 75 in one hour and 44 minutes to secure victory for the visitors in the first of Sunday’s reverse singles rubbers. For all that Sharapova has achieved in the sport, it is the first time she has ever won the clinching point in a Fed Cup tie.

The world No. 2 said: “It’s a great feeling to be able to finish it off in the way that we did. It became really tense at the end, I’ve never been in that position and I definitely felt like I had a lot of responsibility and I really wanted to do that today.”

Sharapova was fired up from the start and claimed the immediate break as she stormed forward to put away the drive volley with ease. Radwanska struggled to cope in the face of Sharapova’s constant attack and dropped serve twice more as Sharapova went on to claim the opening set for the loss of just one game in 33 minutes.

A sign of Sharapova’s confidence came in her repeated successful use of the drop shot and she edged ahead with the break for 3-1 in the second set with a stunning forehand pass down the line. However, serving for the match at 5-3, she got tight and Radwanska broke for the first time on her sixth break point of the match, albeit she was gifted it courtesy of a Sharapova double fault.

Serving to stay in the match, Radwanska saved two match points as Sharapova made consecutive forehand errors and the Pole levelled at 5-5. Sharapova averted danger with a hold from 15-30 down in her next service game and finally she claimed victory on her third match point before rushing over to embrace her captain, Anastasia Myskina.

Sharapova said: “I was playing in Krakow in front of Aga’s family and all her supporters in Poland. It’s a difficult match with her coach on the bench as well so it’s like everything was against me today. I just tried to keep my focus and focus on myself and I had a great team supporting me.

“Aga always plays really well right to the end and she made it really difficult for me but I’m really happy I came through.”

It brought to an end a thoroughly disappointing weekend for Radwanska, who was playing in her hometown for the first time. The world No. 8 was deeply upset after losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets on Saturday and although Sharapova was too good on this occasion, she did leave the Krakow Arena with a sense of regret at the amount of missed break point chances.

Radwanska said: “Definitely she was playing unbelievable today. Everything was working for her today. I think I started a bit too slow. She just had an answer for everything today.

“Of course I had so many chances, even in the first set. When you don’t really use those [chances] against those kind of players, then it turns against you. I think that was also the key in the match.”

Vitalia Diatchenko and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova capped the perfect weekend for the visitors as the Russian pair beat Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska 64 64 in the dead doubles rubber.

ACAPULCO, México - Maria Sharapova recovered after a second set hiccup to beat Magdalena Rybarikova and reach the semifinals of the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL. If the Russian goes on to win the title, she will pass Serena Williams and become No.1 on the Road To Singapore leaderboard.

Things looked dicey midway through the match for Sharapova - she originally led 6-1, 2-2, seemingly on the way to a routine victory, before Rybarikova won five of the next seven games to take the second set and take a 1-0 lead in the third. But the No.1-seeded Sharapova regrouped just in time, winning six of the next seven games to close the match out in two hours and 13 minutes, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

Sharapova has now made the semifinals or better at 17 of the 19 International-level events she's played in her career, the only pre-semifinal losses coming at Tokyo [Japan Open] in 2002 (losing to Emmanuelle Gagliardi first round) and Auckland in 2011 (losing to Greta Arn in the quarterfinals).

And the bigger stat - if she wins the title here, she will rise to No.1 on the Road To Singapore leaderboard, the year-long journey to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

There was one downside to all of it though - Sharapova felt ill during the match against Rybarikova, and afterwards she felt so ill she wasn't able to make it to her post-match press conference.

"Unfortunately I've had a stomach virus for the past couple of days and during tonight's match it got a lot worse," Sharapova said in a statement to the media. "I could not make it to press tonight as I am trying to do everything to recover for tomorrow and hoping that I will be out on the court."

Awaiting Sharapova in the semifinals is No.3-seeded WTA Rising Star Caroline Garcia, who advanced past Mirjana Lucic-Baroni when the Croat had to retire down 6-2, 2-1 due to a GI illness.

Sharapova has beaten Garcia in all three of their previous meetings, though one of those meetings was as close as could be - Garcia led 6-3, 4-1 at the 2011 French Open before Sharapova fought back.

The other semifinal features No.5 seed Timea Bacsinszky, who beat Johanna Larsson, 6-3, 6-3, and Bulgarian lucky loser Sesil Karatantcheva, who fought off three match points in the second set - two down 6-5 and one more down 7-6 in the tie-break - to make it past Monica Puig, 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-4.

Bacsinszky and Karatantcheva will be playing against each other for the first time.