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Sharapova tells Bouchard to be herself

Source: AFP | January 25, 2015, Sunday | Online Edition

MARIA Sharapova on Sunday said she sympathised with her Australian Open quarter-final opponent Eugenie Bouchard over constant hype labelling her "the new Sharapova".

After all, argued the 27-year-old Russian, she is still fielding comparisons with Anna Kournikova despite winning five Grand Slams since her breakthrough at Wimbledon more than a decade ago.

Sharapova, the second seed at Melbourne Park this year as she chases a second Australian title, said all 20-year-old Bouchard could do was remain true to herself.

"When I was coming up, I was compared to Kournikova for many years in my career," said Sharapova, who routed Chinese 21st seed Peng Shuai 6-3, 6-0 to set up a final eight clash with Bouchard.

"Still occasionally the name always comes up in interviews and articles. That's just part of the game, part of the business. It's understandable.

"As I said when I was still a teenager 'I don't want to be the next anyone. I want to be the first Maria Sharapova". 

"That's how I've been throughout my whole career. And we all want to create our own path and go through our own career."

Florida-based Sharapova is the world's wealthiest female athlete, with lucrative endorsements pushing her earnings in the tens of millions annually.

Canada's Bouchard, seeded seventh, is similarly photogenic and has been tipped as tennis' next big thing after reaching the Wimbledon final and the semi at the Australian and French Opens last year.

Sharapova said she was not well acquainted with Bouchard, who is already a superstar in her homeland, but could see similarities in their games.

"I personally don't know Genie very well (but) as a tennis player she's a big competitor," she said. 

"She's an aggressive player as well that likes to take the ball early and dictate points. From that perspective, yeah, definitely."

 

- Torrid clash -

 

Sharapova said she was gaining form at the season-opening Grand Slam after surviving a second-round scare at the hands compatriot Alexandra Panova, when she had to save two match points.

"I feel like someone gave me another chance and when you come close to losing you have to pump yourself up. I think I've done a good job of that since that match," she said.

Sharapova went into the match with a 4-1 record over Peng but the 29-year-old matched her in the early exchanges before the Russian ran riot.

The pair exchanged breaks mid-way through the first set, with the tenacious Peng struggling to handle Sharapova's powerful forehand.

Sharapova ramped up the aggression to notch another break after Peng shot her forehand into the net, going on to take the set after 39 minutes.

Peng threw everything she had at Sharapova at the start of the second, stretching the opening game to 13 minutes as she desperately tried to stop the Russian breaking early.

She saved two set points but succumbed to a third and Sharapova never looked back, going on to bring up match point with an ace at 6-0 and sealing the win with a cross-court backhand.

The world number two said she was anticipating a torrid clash with Bouchard, who has lost all three of her previous matches with Sharapova but pushed her in the semi-finals of last year's French Open.

"It was a really tough three setter. She's been playing incredibly well -- confident aggressive tennis. I have a tough match ahead of me," she said.

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