Will Maria Sharapova really make playing in the Olympics a top priority?

Question

Maria pledges tip-top Olympic condition, but August 10 is a long way to go not to mention the US open starts August 25. A week after Olympic tennis tournament ends assuming if she makes it to the gold medal match. So far she's is saying it's a great honor to play in the Olympics.

I wonder who grabs Maria's attention come August love of her motherland which she left as a young girl and is know based in the USA or her American sponsers which may worry about her physical condition come US Open time .

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24052008/3/sharapova-pledges-tip-top-olympics-condition.html

In no way is she alone in this prediciment of playing for your country vs focusing on the tour as in Athens 2004 5 of the top 10 mens' and women's players entered the tournament.

Answer 1

Yes I think she is very serious about playing in the Olympics.  That's why she made a point to play Fed Cup this year for Russia, as that is a requirement for players to be named to their country's Olympic team.  She has already accomplished so many things in her young career, and the Olympics and the French Open are her two remaining, and obviously biggest, goals.  Once she wins those two, and a Fed Cup, which she will probably do this year with her teammates, she will have won every major title there is in women's tennis.

Answer 2

Olympics is at the pinnacle of every sport...it is the ultimate honour for any sportperson..

it is all coz of the reputation of the tournament...Olympics are soooo big for everyone..that soemtimes u r even willing to give up ur whole career for it....every1 is currently focusing on their preparations as those for the olympics...i'll give u an eg...Sania Mirza was again troubled by a right wrist injury that has hogged her career ever since she started making headway on the tour..she picked up that injury again during her 61 76 loss against Daniela Hantuchova at Indian Wells r16 this year....she cud have taken a rest of abt 4 weeks to let the wrist come back to its best..she has always taken some weeks off whenever she feltt that injuty was troubling her...she did not opt for rest this time..instead chose to have a surgery done..coz that injury is inevitable due to her peculiar grip...so if she dint have a surgery there was full possibility of the injury troubling her again till the olympics...and she also said so in an interview that she wants to remain in peak physical condition for the olympics...

so see Olympics are so big that every1 wants to be fit to be able to play and win a medal for their country...which also includes Sharapova...even if that means missing Wimbledon...

Answer 3

yes, of course...

winning wimbledon, US open, and australian open...

olympics, french open, and fed cup are still remaining...

if russia wins this year in the fed cup... 2 remaining,,

and of course, Olympics comes only every 4 YEARS!

french open. hope she will win this year too

and 2008 will be a very great year for her!

Answer 4

yes she probably will, she is more motivated these days.. and with Justine henin out for good.. which i think is brutal.. sharpova has more and more motivation...

but u never know

Answer 5

Playing in the Olympics is the smartest decision to do, unlike Andy Roddick who decides to skip the Olympics to play the U.S. Open.

The U.S. Open comes every single year, but the Olympics comes only once in four years. You get to play for your country in the Olympics.

Answer 6

i think she should

Answer 7

sorry! i do not spack english! but sharapova is the best!!!!!11

Answer 8

I think she's stupid to play in the olympics in beijing for a myriad of reasons. first the air quality in China sux! it's so polluted that long distance runners where gas masks!!! Then its a commie country where they use slave labor to produce our products.  AND the US Open is much more important to her career in the long run.  To rush over to china and then back to the US in such a short time seems like it would be much too hard on your body.

Whatever she decides, I still wish her well, and hope she wins.