Sharapova in frosty exchange with journo over 'pathetic' act
Maria Sharapova has snapped back at a reporter after being questioned about her controversial toilet break against Ash Barty.
Sharapova drew the ire of the Australian public on Sunday when she took a seven-minute break in between the second and third sets of her 4-6 6-1 6-4 loss to the Aussie.
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Many felt Sharapova was using the toilet break as a tactical move to disrupt Barty’s rhythm, with the crowd loudly booing her as she made her way back onto court.
It was a major talking point in the thrilling encounter, but Sharapova was in no mood to discuss it in her post-match press conference.
When asked about being booed, Sharapova offered a very frosty response.
“What do you ant me to say?” she asked the journo, who replied “probably the truth I guess.”
“I think that’s a very silly question,” she said.
Sharapova then completely ignored the journo when he replied: “Did it affect you at all?”
The Russian star was also riled by a question about her use of meldonium, which resulted in a lengthy ban from the sport.
Asked whether it is difficult to deal with the physical demands of a grand slam without her former medication, Sharapova pursed her lips and replied: “Is there another question?”
Fans and pundits were less than impressed by Sharapova’s tactics, after she also flouted the shot clock in between serves.
This is pathetic. Blatant attempt to disrupt Barty #ausopen
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) January 20, 2019
Anytime Sharapova loses a set, she takes a very long bathroom break — theoretically within rules, but terrible sportsmanship. Indicative of a larger problem. #AusOpen #AusOpen18
— Soman Chainani (@SomanChainani) January 20, 2019
Sharapova is blatantly wasting time to try and throw Barty off instead of playing better. She screams to the point of Barry’s shot. It’s embarrassing .#AustralianOpen
— Neutral (@MotiveBen) January 20, 2019
Sharapova should've gotten a time violation about 1 hour and 50 minutes ago
— Gira (@GiraGoomy) January 20, 2019
Sharapova very lucky she's just getting a code violation warning only now. Taking ages on the serve. #AusOpen
— Ben Crawford (@BenCrawford__) January 20, 2019
Australia’s first women’s quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park since Jelena Dokic a decade ago, Barty will now play Czech world No.6 Petra Kvitova on Tuesday for a spot in the semi-finals.
Kvitova beat Barty in a third-set tiebreaker in the final of the Sydney International eight days ago.
“It doesn’t get any easier at all,” Barty said.
“It’s just another challenge and another opportunity for me to come out and try to play my best tennis.
“I have come agonisingly close against Petra before so I can come out and Tuesday, play a fun, free brand of tennis and see how we go.”
with AAP