TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015 SPORTS Sharapova loves karaoke, art, architecture, Cher

MELBOURNE: Despite being the highest Art and architecture paid sportswoman on the planet and While remains her number one one of tennis’ most recognizable faces, passion and what drives her-she is deter- insists she is shy and mined to unseat arch-rival Serena doesn’t need expensive things to make Williams as world number one- her happy. But the massively wealthy Sharapova is a keen art and architecture world number two, who has topped the fan. Her Manhattan Beach home is a pri- Forbes list of richest women athletes for vate gallery, Fairfax said, with the Russian 10 years, also confesses to loving art and nominating her Californian friend Chris architecture. She also enjoys karaoke, Gwaltney and edgy Briton Tracey Emin as belting out Cher hits. “I’m quite shy, actu- her favorite artists. ally, in the beginning,” the US-based “I love architecture and modern art, so Russian told The Age newspaper in I actually enjoy building projects and as she prepares to launch her looking at beautiful pieces and adding campaign. “I’m quite an them to my collection,” she said. “I have a easy person. I don’t need a lot of big or lot of beautiful white walls and concrete expensive things to make me happy.” walls, and I love different textures and, I Despite having homes in Florida and don’t know, I like looking at something California, where the paparazzi thrive, that just puts a smile on your face, makes and being the face of everything from you happy. “People think ‘oh that’s so German cars to French mineral water, the strange’ and don’t really understand, but 27-year-old said she is able to live a rela- that’s what art is about, I guess. “I really tively obscure life. For this, she is grateful. love art. Every time I go to a city I always “No matter what people define me as, try to find my way to the cool galleries.” and say that I am quite well-known, I’m The savvy five-time champi- able to live a very normal, easy life,” said on can afford the best on offer, having Sharapova, whose partner is world become a major force in the business MELBOURNE: of Spain is seen as he plays of Russia during their first round match at the AustralianOpen tennis number 11 . “I’m lucky world. On top of her numerous sponsor- championship yesterday.— AP enough not to have a lot of cameras fol- ships, she has a Nike apparel line called lowing me around. “I live in a country the Maria Sharapova Collection that is where I think actors and musicians are a worn by a number of other players. little bit more of a bigger deal than Sharapova is also owner of Supergoop, a Nadal rises with emphatic maybe athletes are-which I’m very premium brand of sunscreen, and thankful for. “At the end of the day I can Sugarpova, a candy line now sold in wake up and not feel like I have to put more than 20 global markets. While the victory at Australian Open on red lipstick. I don’t know if I’d ever be glamorous blonde has the world at her able to manage that! “I just want to go feet, also enjoys simple pleasures, like get my cup of coffee and I’m able to do singing karaoke. “My voice is not that it. I mean, I don’t wear pyjamas (out), bad, actually! I love singing Cher,” she Sixth seed Murray into Open second round but I don’t have to, like, have the full said. “I know it sounds crazy, but I have gear on.” quite a good time singing Cher.” —AFP MELBOURNE: If Rafael Nadal Only two of the men’s seeded needed any reminding of how long players went out. No. 11 Ernests it has been since he won the Gulbis wasted four match points Federer beats Lu Australian Open, he only needed to before losing in five sets to Thanasi look at the “09” on the back of his Kokkinakis, an 18-year-old left shoe. After spending most of Australian who went around the MELBOURNE: Swiss world num- Taiwanese overhit a forehand. the last six months on the sidelines court high-fiving fans to celebrate. ber two had a tus- Federer served it out for the in an extended injury layoff, and No. 15 retired sle before dispatching Taiwan’s Lu match, protecting his record of after a first-round loss in a warm- with a groin injury after five games. Yen-Shun in straight sets at the never losing a first-round match up tournament, the 14-time Grand No. 7 Tomas Berdych, No. 10 Grigor Australian Open yesterday. in 16 appearances in Melbourne. Slam winner said he was low on Dimitrov, and No. 14 Kevin Federer, who is gunning for his “I thought it was played at a really confidence coming into the first Anderson were among the men fifth title at , won good level, it was a tough match major of the year. The Spaniard who advanced. Top-ranked 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 and will play Italian and I had to step it up,” Federer remedied that, for a while at least, Djokovic, a four-time Australian in the second said. “I’ve played him a few times with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Open champion, was due to open round. The 17-time Grand Slam so I knew what he can do and he Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny Tuesday against Aljaz Bedene. champion reeled off the opening didn’t disappoint. “It’s early in the on day one of the Australian Open, Women’s No. 1 , two sets in just over an hour but season and it’s tough to get where he won the title in 2009 and who has won five titles at found more resistance from the rhythm, especially in the first lost in the finals in 2012 and last Melbourne Park, had a Tuesday 47th-ranked Lu in the third. The round, but this court plays nice year. Nadal hit 37 winners, and got night start against Alison Van breakthrough came in the 11th and we had some great rallies so his skipping, double fist-pumping Uytvanck. game when Federer held three it was a nice match.” Federer has celebration going during the third Meanwhile, British sixth seed break points on Lu’s service and reached the semi-final stage at his set. advanced to the sec- took the game when the last 11 Australian Opens. — AFP “Very positive result for me. I ond round of the Australian Open think very good start,” he said. with a testing straight sets workout “Always before the first match you against India’s yester- always have the doubts, especially day. Murray won 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) in this situation I’m arriving here. and will now play Australian Never easy, but it was an important in the next match for me... a comfortable vic- round. A three-time runner-up at tory that give me some confi- Melbourne Park, Murray had not dence.” The Australian Open is the played Bhambri before and found only major Nadal hasn’t won at him a tricky opponent in the 2hr least twice, and he has long want- 13min match on Margaret Court ed another triumph in Melbourne Arena. to complete a second full career Bhambri, the lowest-ranked MELBOURNE: Russia’s Maria Sharapova serves during her women’s singles match Grand Slam. He has come close, player in the men’s draw at 317, against Croatia’s Petra Martic on day one of the 2015 Australian Open tennis tourna- losing to in a 5- provided the Scot with a decent ment yesterday. —AFP hour, 53-minute epic final in 2012 encounter ahead of his anticipated and to last year. bigger challenges in the year’s first A right wrist injury and an Grand Slam tournament. “Yuki appendix operation that limited made it very difficult, he played Sharapova through Nadal to seven matches after very aggressive, he came to the Wimbledon have taught him the net, he’s very talented and he as Ivanovic tumbles benefits of patience. And a Jan 5 made it tough,” Murray said. “I’ve loss to in Doha never hit with him or seen him play helps keep him grounded. “When before so that made it tricky as MELBOURNE: Second seed Maria admitting she felt “lost” on centre court as that happens after a tough period well.” Sharapova powered into the Australian world number 142 Hradecka recovered of injuries you arrive here with Murray always had the edge Open second round yesterday as fifth from a woeful start to outclass a player doubts,” he said. “This first match over the Indian, who is coached at ranked crashed out in a day 137 places above her. Hradecka, who was tough mentally for me. “Today the Nick Bollettieri Academy in of upsets in the season-opening Grand won a silver medal in doubles at the is very hard to speak about having Florida, and had his broken Slam. A total of eight women’s seeds were London Olympics and has three Grand (title) chances. I have one match. twice in the first and third sets. A eliminated on the first day of action at Slam doubles titles, showed no signs of That’s better than two days ago, two-time Grand Slam champion, Melbourne Park, with former world num- being intimidated, continually wrong- but I need more to feel that I am Murray is bidding to become the MELBOURNE: Switzerland’s Roger Federer plays a shot during his ber one Ivanovic the highest profile casu- footing Ivanovic as she attacked the net. ready for something very impor- first player to win the Australian men’s singles match against Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun on day one of alty. Ivanovic, seeded five, was bundled tant here. It’s the moment to really Open title after losing three finals the 2015 Australian Open tennis tournament yesterday. —AFP out in a humiliating 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to Early nerves give to this victory the right value.” in Melbourne. — Agencies Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka, with third World number three Halep also pro- seed forced to dig deep to duced a stuttering first-up performance, avoid a similar fate. with the Romanian admitting nerves (seeded nine), Lucie almost got the better of her, but man- Safarova (16), aged to regroup and down Italy’s Karin Retired champion (23) and (27) were Knapp 6-3, 6-2. Despite the emphatic also among the day-one departures, scoreline, Halep struggled to impose her- is pregnant while Canada’s (7) and self on world number 50 Knapp and was (10) negotiated their relieved to advance, saying nerves were MELBOURNE: Retired two-time connection she felt with the way through. Sharapova, who can regain always going to be an issue so early in a Grand Slam champion Li Na was Australian crowd during her two the coveted number one ranking from Grand Slam. always known for her timing on runner-up finishes at Melbourne arch-rival Serena Williams if she wins a “I’m sure that next time I’ll play better,” court at the Australian Open, Park in 2011 and 2013 and her second title at Melbourne Park, said she said the 23-year-old, who is looking to whether it was a cleanly struck title run last year. “I was no was aware of the carnage before she build on a breakthrough 2014 when she passing shot or a deadpanned longer alone out there fighting faced Petra Martic of Croatia. reached the final and the wisecrack at the expense of her my opponent (and sometimes “There were quite a few upsets today. semi-finals at Wimbledon. “I was thinking husband, Jiang Shan. Returning myself); today it felt like I was in Of course I was very well aware of that... I a lot-maybe too much-yesterday about to Melbourne Park for the first the company of my 15,000 certainly didn’t want to be one of them,” this match, (so) I’m really happy I could time since hoisting the champi- friends,” she wrote. “And it really she said. The five-time Grand Slam cham- win this.” onship trophy last year, the feels like this baby is going to pion need not have worried, crushing Seventh seed Bouchard described her Chinese star made yet another enter the world already having Martic 6-4, 6-1 to make it a 24th birthday 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Germany’s Anna-Lena popular delivery at Rod Laver about 15,000 friends.” to forget for the Croat. “I made a few too Friedsam as “solid” but was confident Arena yesterday, announcing to After becoming the first Asian many unforced errors but overall I’m glad she would improve. “I feel good men- the crowd that she and her hus- player to win a major at the I got through,” said Sharapova, who tally and I’m just so ready to fight and band - who also goes by the and then cap- showed signs of the sizzling form that leave everything on the court. I don’t name Dennis - are expecting turing her second Grand Slam won her the French Open last year and feel tired at all,” she said. Kerber of their first child. last year, Li decided to walk the Brisbane International warm-up tour- Germany lost to Irina-Camelia Begu of “I’m not sure I can trust every- away from the game in nament earlier this month. Romania 6-4, 0-6, 6-1. Meanwhile, one or not,” she playfully told September due to recurring There was only despair for her oppo- Australian Jarmila Gajdosova finally the crowd before letting every- knee injuries. Li has kept busy nent in the Brisbane final Ivanovic, whose broke a demoralizing run at her home one in on her secret. “Me and since her retirement - she has fine form ahead of the Open deserted Grand Slam with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Dennis, we are so excited our been traveling with her husband her. The Serb, who won her only major at Romanian , taking first child will be out in the sum- and making plans to open her the French Open in 2008, was hoping to her through the opening round for the mer. Dennis is doing good job - own tennis academy in China. re-establish her Grand Slam credentials at first time in a decade of trying. he just makes one ace.” Li later And now she has a big arrival on the Australian Open, where she enjoys Williams, who won the last of her five posted a message on Facebook the way. “We can’t wait to huge popularity among the home fans. Australian titles in 2010, opens her MELBOURNE: Defending Australian Open champion Li Na of China saying she chose to make the become parents and start this “It’s really disappointing. It’s probably the campaign today against Belgium’s (left) holds the women’s singles trophy next to her wax model big announcement at Rod Laver new chapter together,” she worst thing could happen,” she said, . — AFP unveiled at the Australian Open tennis championship. —AP Arena because of the special wrote. — AP