Sharapova has one eye on life beyond tennis

On eve of Wimbledon final against Czech Kvitova, Sharapova reveals she has one eye on life beyond tennis

Sharapova has one eye on life beyond tennis

On eve of Wimbledon final against Czech Kvitova, Sharapova reveals she has one eye on life beyond tennis

Sharapova is eager to see what lies away from the sport which has brought her fame and fortune, and admits she is unlikely to join the ranks of tennis senior citizens.

Russia's Maria Sharapova stretches during training on the eve of the
Wimbledon final against Czech Petra Kvitova at the All England Tennis
Club in London yesterday. pic/AFP

Asked if she would still be playing at 30, 24-year-old Sharapova said: "That might be pushing it."

She explained: "Obviously a big part of my life is tennis. But at the end of the day I'm not going to be playing for my whole life. Tennis can only go to a certain point in your life."

Sharapova and her NBA basketball star fiance Sasha Vujacic are planning for a wedding. "We haven't set a date. And if I did, I probably wouldn't be telling you," she said yesterday.

Yet although the tall Russian with the American accent is focused on beating first-time finalist Petra Kvitova today at Wimbledon, before too long she will be looking for new challenges away from the tour.

"It's great to have someone that will be sharing my life with onwards. I want to explore life," Sharapova said. "There are many other things in life as well that I'd want to do."

Seven years on from her first final, when at the age of 17 she produced a stunning upset by beating Serena Williams, Sharapova is back in a Wimbledon title match.

Considering the potential she had to dominate the women's game, or at least keep pace with the Williams sisters, it might be considered surprising it has taken so long for Sharapova to reach another showpiece on the London grass.

Sharapova thinks not though. Fate, she suggests, has kept her waiting for this opportunity.

"You obviously hope that you can be in the final stages every single year, but I guess it's just not meant to happen. This is the year I'm supposed to be back in the final. I'm not going to question it. It's just the way life goes," she said. Sharapova remembers all too clearly how she headed into the 2004 final.

"I remember getting sick the day before," Sharapova said. "So I was just trying to get better. I was quite upset with that. I think that took my mind away from everything."

On her left-handed opponent, Sharapova said: "I expect her to be a really tough opponent because she's a really good grass court player. She's also a lefty, which on grass is very tricky. With the way the spin comes out, it's a big advantage coming from a lefty."

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