Reach For the Top

1.0Part-II Maria Sharapova

2.0Central Idea

3.0Excellence Comes at Price

There is something at odds with Maria Sharapova with her smile and dress. This lifted her on 22 August 2005 to the world number one position in women's tennis. She is a Siberian teenager. It took her four years to achieve the top position. Maria's climb upwards started nine years before. She was not yet 10 when she was sent to train in America. That trip to Florida with her father Yuri put her on the line to success and stardom. But it meant a separation also of two years from her mother Yelena. Yelena had to live in Siberia due to visa restrictions. Maria recalls that she felt lonely in the US. She missed her mother greatly. Her father also couldn't see her mother. He earned only as much as to keep her tennistraining going. She was young. She used to tidy up the room and clean it. The seniors would make her do so. This made her determined and mentally tough. She also learnt how to take care of herself. She never thought of quitting. She knew what she wanted. This toughness is still there in her. She bagged the ladies' single crown at Wimbledon in 2004. She became world's number one in 2005.

4.0On the Top of the World

Maria has journeyed from Siberia to the top of women's tennis. It has touched the hearts of tennis fans. She looks straight and answers clearly. These tell that her sacrifices were worth it. She says that she works hard at what she does. This is her mantra for success. Maria speaks with an American accent. She shows her pride to be a Russian. She says that her blood is Russian. However, the US is a big part of her life. She will play the Olympics for Russia if they wanted her to play.

Sharapova's hobbies are fashion, singing and dancing. She loves reading the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle. She is fond of evening gowns. She loves pancakes with chocolate spread and orange drinks. Sharapova can't be put in a category. She has talent, a desire to succeed and readiness to sacrifice. These qualities have lifted her to the top of the world. She finds money as motivation. Tennis is a business and a sport. But the most important thing is to become number one in the world. This dream has kept her going.

5.0Recall

• Reach for the top (part-II) briefly narrates the life of Maria Sharapova.
• She was 10 years old when she was sent to America to train with her father.
• Her mother couldn't come with her due to visa restriction.
• In the U.S. She Missed her mother badly but she knew that the sacrifice was an inevitable part of her big aspirations.
• She also suffered harassment from her fellow trainees.
• Her fellow trainees would return at 11 pm and to bully her.
• Instead of getting frustrated at this treatment, Maria saw its positive and drew mental strength from this humiliation.
• This Mental toughness gradually became a trait of her personality.
• It helped her to reach the pinnacle of glory in the world of tennis.
• Although Maria is fond of fashion, singing and dancing, she focuses all her attention on tennis.