Australian Open: Maria Sharapova aims to rebuild reputation

Nothing stinks in sport more than a dirty athlete. Go ask a clean athlete.

Maria Sharapova serves to Tatjana Maria in her opening-round straight sets win Picture: Michael Klein

Um … Maria Sharapova is on Margaret Court Arena. How much more outrage could there possibly be! A modern-day legend is causing outrage after her drugs suspension. She’s in full diva mode on a playing surface named after a ­latter-day legend who’s outraged by the outrage she’s created by condemning homosexuality. Too many elephants are in the one room. The room itself is an ­elephant! Outrageous.

Who are we watching here? Who is this statuesque woman with her straight-backed poise and elitist pout? A fiendish Russian drug cheat who knowingly enhanced her performance for a decade by taking a substance she did not need for medical purposes? Or just a bit of a dope for taking Meldonium after it was placed on the prohibited list? The details are murkier than Sharapova’s reputation. They’re more awkward than the half-and-half applause she’s receiving when she struts onto Court’s controversial court. She beats Germany’s world No 47 Tatjana Maria 6-1 6-4. Can she win the tournament?

“Um …” she says.

Her first-round draw is as soft as the interview she did with Channel Seven last week, the one in which her 15-month drugs ­suspension was dismissed by the interviewer as “time out”. What a cop out! It was a drugs ban. Fact. She had the honour last week of carrying the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup onto Margaret Court Arena — outrageous! — for the draw and while Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley was right to say she had done her time for her ­performance-enhancing crime, that was a poor look. Nothing stinks in sport more than a dirty athlete. Go ask a clean athlete.

“I was invited to be part of the draw by Craig Tiley and the tournament organisation, and I kindly accepted,” she deadpanned. “I don’t have anything to say to that (criticism).’’

Sharapova emerged from the tunnel yesterday to a Taylor Swift soundtrack, exuding an untouchable Taylor Swift aura. They could have given her a Hollywood trailer instead of a courtside chair. Someone to do the hair and makeup. No spectators gave her a hard time in her first match at Melbourne Park since her positive drugs test. No one booed her. No one threw chairs, eggs or insults. The chant of “Come on, Maria!” was a little ­confusing. As many Marias were on the court as elephants.

“It felt pretty routine,” she said. “I felt like I got a lot of things out of the way physically and emotionally and mentally last year. There was a lot of firsts again for me, playing the first tournament, first grand slam, and just different feelings and what it would be routinely. Honestly, you know, I think I made a choice by coming back and playing again.

“With that choice I know that I face difficulties and challenges on the court and that I start from no ranking and that I might start on some outside courts. I understand that and that’s part of the process. I’m here to work through that. I learned what it feels like to be on the ground, seeing life from the ground. I’m not shy. I’m not shying away from any part of that. I love what I do. I’m a competitor and that’s why I continue to do it and where I think I display that.

“The moment I don’t have that anymore will be a moment I won’t play.”

Every groundstroke was accompanied by a shriek that suggested she had stubbed her toe. She screamed like she must have screamed when she received her WADA results two years ago. But you wouldn’t change a thing about the on-court schtick. It creates tension, amplifies the drama. She’s a James Bond girl in a tennis tournament. She’s the only player who pumps her fist before a point. When Maria was about to serve, she looked up and saw Sharapova’s clenched, pre-emptive gesture. She faces 14th-seeded Latvian Anastasija Sevastova tomorrow ahead of a possible blockbuster against former world No 1 Angelique Kerber in round three.

“People are saying I have a tough draw,” Sharapova said. “You know, personally these are the players that I want to be playing. I want to be playing someone that has challenged me. I want to be playing someone that’s on a hot streak and playing well. These are the players I should be playing and beating, as well. I expect that from myself. I want to put myself in that position to play against them no matter who it is in the past and I look forward to doing in the future. I feel like I’m building. I feel like with every tournament and every week I have different feelings about different things. Some things are coming a little slower than I wanted. Some things I feel good about. I still feel like I’m building physically and getting the match play in. I’m motivated. As long as I have that in my mind, it’s OK.”

Given the audible onslaught during the match, it came as a ­surprise when the 30-year-old Russian spoke softly in a post-match interview. She’s not here to win friends. Can she finish the tournament as she started it? With the trophy in her hands?

“Um,” she grinned. “Look, I think confidence comes with time and with match play and putting yourself in situations where you’re able to take those opportunities. I know that nothing will be handed to me or anyone. You have to work for every point in a match. It’s too far to tell. I’m not overly confident. I have expectations because of my previous results in my career, and I know at what level I can play and what tennis I can produce. But I’m also realistic, and the process of coming back takes time. I keep building and learning.”