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Maria Explained Why She Didn’t Talk To Other Players
6 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop

A hot topic lately has been about how some WTA players are whining that certain other elite WTA players don’t talk enough in the locker room and that the camaraderie, conversations and overall social scene on the WTA World Tour is lacking.
Well, Maria Sharapova explained in her book “UNSTOPPABLE: MY LIFE SO FAR” why she decided being a lone wolf was the best route for her career.
“People say that I’m bad sport because I don’t seem to be friends with the other players on the pro tour. Well, I just don’t buy into that locker room small talk. It feels forced. Fake. There are so many times when you see two players in the locker room, two girls just chatting away like they’re best friends, about personal lives and boyfriends and ‘I’m going on vacation’ and ‘I bought this dress’ and ‘Oh my God! It was how much money?’ Listening to them speak, they sound like best friends. And then, a few hours later, one of them is playing a match and the other is in the locker room watching the match on TV, looking pleased when her friends loses the point. That’s how it really is.”
Even at IMG Academy as a teen, well before her first Grand Slam success at Wimbledon, Maria evaded close friendships with her rivals and peers Tatiana Golovin, Jelena Jankovic… “I was too competitive to get very close to them.”
So when you hear players griping about Qinwen Zheng and Iga Swiatek not being social butterflies in the locker room, remember Maria Sharapova’s philosophy was not politically correct but it certainly worked out advantageously for her.
Iga Swiatek · Maria Sharapova · Qinwen Zheng · WTA
Sam · January 27, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Maria sounds a lot like Chris Evert in this regard. 😏
I’d say there’s a healthy middle ground here. Someone like Maria shouldn’t make small talk if she doesn’t want to. But did she ever utter a polite “hello” to her fellow players—or attempt a nod along with eye contact acknowledging that they actually exist? 😏
You don’t have to be chummy with everyone, but you at least need to treat others like they’re human beings. Wanting to keep a healthy distance is never a good excuse for being rude.
Scoop Malinowski · January 27, 2025 at 3:37 pm
Maria told a next round opponent, “I will destroy you tomorrow.” somebody who witnessed it told me. So I don’t think she bothered with any useless small talk. Btw Pete Sampras and Rios were known for not talking with anybody. Why waste words when you can focus on playing tactics.
Sam · February 6, 2025 at 11:49 am
Well, let’s just say that Maria doesn’t sound like a very nice person. 😏
And who really cares that you may be a great athlete if you treat others like garbage? 🤔
Scoop Malinowski · February 6, 2025 at 3:22 pm
The best are ruthless, Sam, Andrea Jaeger said Every intentionally bumped into her in the locker room, young kyrgios said Stepanek intentionally bumped into him on changeover at french open, Maria was friends with just a few, kirilenko and Ivanovic.
Sam · February 15, 2025 at 10:55 pm
Oh, I believe it, Scoop. But I sure wouldn’t want to be in a relationship with any of these athletes. I wonder if Chrissy ever intentionally bumped into any of her three husbands as well? 😆
That’s why Jaeger was so relieved when she finally left competitive tennis. She said she never really felt good about beating people, and that to succeed in an individual sport, you have to be selfish.
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2025 at 7:35 am
Sam we know the answer to that one ) Jaeger probably was too nice to survive in such a “ruthless sport” as tennis. And those are the words of former ATP pro Michael Redlicki which I heard him say to the co-owner of Sarasota Open Challenger. But some really nice people actually to thrive in this ruthless sport – to name a few Wilander, Delpo, Seles, Nishikori, Gasquet, Felix, Vilas, Enqvist, Edberg, Rafter, to name a few.