Many fans of Maria Sharapova expected the Russian “doll” to return to tennis when they learned she would participate in Pickleball Slam 2.
Sharapova attracted attention when she attended the Pickleball Slam 2 tournament taking place on February 4. She paired with John McEnroe and faced the couple Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. These are all former tennis players who have made waves in the world of tennis.
Pickleball is a new sport that combines three sports: table tennis, badminton and tennis. Players compete on a field with length and width like a badminton court, but the net is placed close to the ground like tennis, and the court lines are divided into squares like table tennis. The plastic ball is shaped like a rattan ball but smaller in size. Pickleball rackets are also smaller than tennis rackets.
Sharapova is on the same team as John McEnroe and James Blake. This trio faces off against the legendary husband and wife team of Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi and Jack Sock.
Pickleball Slam 2 consists of three matches, where the first two matches are each worth 1 point and the last match is worth 2 points. In the opening match, Agassi and Sock overcame McEnroe and Blake with a score of 11-7, 9-11, 11-8. The second match saw Graf and Sock widen their gap by defeating Sharapova and Blake (9-11, 11-8, 17-15).
Agassi and Graf entered the final match with a 2-point advantage. After that, this couple went on to defeat McEnroe and Sharapova with a score of 11-7, 13-11. In the end, Agassi’s team won absolutely 4-0 and won the championship and a bonus of 1 million USD.
Before seeing Sharapova on the court again, many Sharapova fans dream that the Russian “doll” participating in pickleball will be the basis for her to return to top tennis after 4 years of announcing her retirement. But this is clearly just a dream, nothing more.
There are many reasons why Sharapova will not choose to return to tennis. At the age of 36, it is difficult for Sharapova to compete with young, ambitious and extremely potential players.
Sharapova always has detailed calculations when deciding to do anything. At the age of 36, the Russian “doll” cannot really be expected to stick with top tennis for too long. Therefore, re-exporting and announcing retirement again in just a few years is really not worth doing.
Currently Sharapova enjoys playing pickleball. This sport does not create title pressure for the former tennis player born in 1987, and brings her both joy and income.
Sharapova’s business is also very busy, so it is difficult for the Russian “doll” to focus on tennis like before. Not to mention she also has a small family to take care of and raise.
