Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova beat her compatriot Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-4 Thursday in an exhibition match in Taipei. The top two Russian tennis players, who are both visiting Taiwan for the first time, showcased their skills and played a great match at Taipei Arena. Their visit is aimed at promoting the sport and motivating more young people to play. During a warm up match in which the two world-class players were each paired with a local young talent, world No. 2 Sharapova, 24, even danced to the music to ease the tension. The main goal of their trip is to encourage those who are interested in the sport to keep moving forward, they said at a press conference in Taipei on Wednesday.
During their short stay in the capital, the two also held a tennis clinic and interacted closely with young talents at a local junior high school. The two are scheduled to leave for Japan Friday. Their visit will be followed by the arrival of the world’s No. 2 male tennis star Rafael Nadal of Spain and his compatriot David Ferrer, also for an exhibition match that will be played at National Taiwan Sport University on Oct. 1. The two matches are part of efforts to produce Taiwan’s own world-class tennis players. Earlier this year, former stars Andre Agassi and Marat Safin played exhibition matches against Taiwan players in Taipei and Kaohsiung.
Top stars right to consider striking: Former Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova believes the sport’s leading male players are right to consider going on strike in a bid to take control of their overcrowded schedule. Navratilova knows from experience just how draining life on the tennis circuit can be for top stars and she has sympathy for the growing discontent among stars like Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. World number four Murray recently revealed players have had enough of being pushed into gruelling schedules by the ATP, who govern the men’s Tour, and are likely to discuss the possibility of strike action at a meeting in Shanghai next month. The threat has been criticised by some, but Navratilova, winner of 18 grand slam singles titles, believes the likes of Murray, Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer would be right to flex their muscles should the powers that be not listen to their concerns.
“If it’s the only way they can get to that point, that’s what they have to do – if they can unify themselves enough and if that’s the last resort,” Navratilova told BBC Radio Five Live. “Without the top players, you really don’t have anything and if they band together like that then the powers that be have to talk to them and listen to them. “They have been complaining about the long schedule for a long, long time and nothing has happened. The schedule is just as long. “We’re the only sport that does not have an off season. For the guys who are still playing in December, or even without the Davis Cup, they have about four weeks, then they start up in January. “It’s crazy, You can’t do that year after year after year. It’s going to take its toll which means you’re career is going to be shorter, you’re not going to play as well, you’re going to be injured. Nobody wins in that scenario.”
