After Loss, Proud Sharapova Hungry for More Wins

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After Loss, Proud Sharapova Hungry for More Wins

Sharapova on #USOpen: There are a lot of positives. Monday night was a special night for me and I will always remember it (📽 US Open/ESPN) pic.twitter.com/EVRgYMq0MN
— Ilya Ryvlin (@ryvlin) September 3, 2017

Maria Sharapova’s chances at a dream run to the title in New York went up in smoke on Sunday when she fell to Anastasija Sevastova in three sets, but the Russian is thrilled to have had her first taste of Grand Slam play since January of 2016, and even though she wasn’t able to progress into the quarterfinals, she still comes away with a sense of satisfaction based on her performance at the 2017 U.S. Open.

More: Sevastova Ends Sharapova's Run in New York

“It's been a really great ride in the last week,” she told reporters after falling, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, to the 16th-seeded Latvian on Sunday. “Obviously coming off a loss, you know, it's a quick turnaround in order to reflect all the positives that happened in the last eight or nine days. But ultimately I can take a lot from this week. It's great to get that major out of the way. It was an incredible opportunity. I'm very thankful for the opportunity. I did my best.

“I can be proud of that.”

Sharapova started her U.S. Open with an impressive three-set victory over No.2-seeded Simona Halep, then went three sets again in the second round when she defeated Timea Babos. Those long battles may have ultimately led to her undoing on Sunday, as her lack of match toughness and physicality may have been contributing factors in her 51 unforced errors on the afternoon.

“I think I allowed the match to become physical,” Sharapova said. “I mean, look, three-set matches are challenging. I love being part of them. There's an element of concentration, focus, physicality that goes into all of it. And you have to put it all together. Yeah, you just have to get through it. There's no doubt that not playing those matches certainly cost me today. I didn't feel like I was thinking a little bit too much and not playing by instinct as maybe I would be in those situations, but those things happen.”

That said, Sharapova comes away from this tournament with a renewed sense of belief that she can be a difference-maker on the WTA Tour beyond the age of thirty. It wasn’t always a notion that defined her mindset.

“Especially when I was in my middle 20s, I didn't think that my body would be ready to compete at such a level,” she told reporters. “And I just got a completely new appreciation of what the body can do at 30 years old, or past 30 years old. I mean, I can take a lot of examples from champions that are still playing, competing, and doing incredibly well, and that's inspiring. But also personally, what I'm able to do with my body, when I'm training, when I'm competing. Just never really thought that I'd have that capacity.

“I think that's given me confidence.”

Sharapova, who plans to play next in Beijing, where she already has a wild card, feels that her first major after returning from a 15-month doping ban is just the beginning. It wasn’t perfect, but it may have been a perfect first step.

“I'm in a much better position than when I started in Stuttgart, so that's great,” she said. “I have many more matches to play.”

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