WORLD STYLE 7: August 2011

While neither Maria Sharapova or Serena Williams are at the top of the rankings, they both are dangerous competitors on hard courts.

Sharapova, Williams, take the courts at U.S. Open

Source: Reuters / Vostock Photo

When the U.S. Open begins in Flushing Meadows, New York, on Aug. 29, all eyes will be on Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. Both are accomplished hard court players, and they are likely to be tough competitors in this year’s event.

The 2011 tournament offers a new shot at glory for both Russia and the United States. Russia now claims 13 of the world’s top 100 female players, and although the United States is still looking for successors to the Williams sisters, Serena is finally back in top form. After a big-toe injury and a pulmonary embolism that put her life in danger in March, Williams has been working out with a new trainer and won a tournament at Stanford. There she defeated Sharapova in the quarterfinals. With 13 Grand Slam tournament titles already under her belt, the champion from Los Angeles now wants to take top honors at Flushing Meadows to solidify her return. Sharapova is considered the only one that can defeat Williams on the tennis court. She is seeded third in the tournament, to Williams’ 28, but Williams remains a powerful player. But the Russian has already beaten her rival in one important measure – earnings. For the seventh year in a row, Sharapova is the highest-earning player on the WTA circuit, with annual earnings totalling more than $25 million. According to a survey published by the website Sportspromedia.com, Sharapova is the female tennis player most desired by sponsors and multinational corporations. Fifty-nine percent of relevant companies said they would choose to have an endorsement deal with her. portfolio already includes commercial agreements with Clear, Cole Haan, Evian, Head, Tiffany & Co and Tag Heuer, in addition to an 8-year, $100 million contract with Nike. Companies post offers for their products on Sharapova’s official Facebook page. Serena Williams, for her part, is third in the earnings rankings, thanks in part to her own deal with Nike. But many experts expect Chinese player Li Na, currently the world’s second-highest earner, to overtake Sharapova in 2012. Her surprise win at the French Open in 2012 gave her some cache among China’s increasingly savvy consumers.

Maria Sharapova

Pull off the win of a lifetime or get trounced against Maria Sharapova this week at the US Open, Heather Watson won’t feel lonely when she reflects on her match with the pin-up girl of womens’ tennis.

‘I have people messaging me every day, wishing me luck,’ says the ever friendly 19-year-old, now the British No 3 and in her first Grand Slam by way of her ranking.

‘That support is really important to me. During a match, I get a ridiculous amount of Twitter messages, almost all really supportive. It’s amazing that many people are following me. I’m getting updates telling me what the score is after every game. I get some weird questions but I don’t have to answer them!’

Growing up first: Heather Watson enters the US Open this week through her ranking

Growing up first: Heather Watson enters the US Open this week through her ranking

Watson has become pretty popular. At the time of writing she has 7,677 Facebook fans and more than 9,000 Twitter followers – not bad for a girl very few people outside British tennis knew much about last year.

That 450 per cent increase in her fan base is partly down the her taking part in the Sony Ericsson Xperia Hot Shots campaign. It’s a programme designed to teach players about widening their appeal, dealing with the media and seeing what the likes of Sharapova go through on a daily basis.

Formidable opponent: Maria Sharapova is up first at Flushing Meadows

Formidable opponent: Maria Sharapova is up first at Flushing Meadows

‘The most fun thing was getting to meet Trey Songz (an American RnB singer),’ says Watson, the 2009 Junior US Open champion. ‘I got to go to my fashion show in Miami too. I was really excited to do HotShots.

'I’ve got a bigger fan base now, I’ve learnt to post videos and photos of what I’m doing. It’s worked.

'The other week a mother and daughter came up to me in Westfield and congratulated me on how I’ve done so far. And someone asked for my picture at the airport in New York a couple of days ago.’

What's up, Watson? Brit star Heather is rapidly growing her profile

What's up, Watson? Brit star Heather is rapidly growing her profile

If Watson continues to play as well as she has done this year, she’s going to be posing for a lot more pictures.

This year has seen her break into the top 100, win a round at the French Open and, now, be given the chance to face 2006 champion Sharapova. Not that she is scared.

‘I am excited to be able to play Maria,’ she says. ‘I have never played her before and it should be very interesting. I am looking forward to a good, fast-paced match and I will just go for it.

Sharapova has been helping Watson increase her fan base as part of the Hot Shots programme but the hard court specialist knows that counts for nothing now.

‘It doesn’t feel like they are famous anymore. It’s just your competition. Some of them say hi, some don’t. Winning a round is not what I’m looking for. I’m going in for the tournament. I’m playing well and I believe in myself.’

Watson sounds happy when we talk – as she always does – and is full of enthusiasm about the changes in her life, including her new coach, former world No 78 Mauricio Hadad from Colombia – Sharapova’s former mentor.

‘Mauricio is my new coach. He's based half of the time Florida and half in Colombia, where he has an academy. I’ve known him since I came to the Bollettieri Academy when I was 12. I used to have private lessons with him. But he left after three years. But I called him to see if he wanted to work with me

'We started about six weeks ago. He’s very calm. I don’t work well with people who scream in my face because I won’t listen. He’s very smart. And he’s going to come to England to train with me after the US Open. He’s teaching me some Spanish – so he speaks it to me all the time. I’m getting a lot better.’

A companion who she gets along with is vital with so many weeks in a year away from her home in Guernsey.

‘I’m definitely travelling a lot, lot more. My life has changed a lot. It’s just been tennis, tennis, tennis. I’m loving it. I’ve done so many things and met so many cool people.’

One of the gang: The teenager enjoys a strong relationship with many of the other tour members

One of the gang: The teenager enjoys a strong relationship with many of the other tour members

Cool sums up the feel at Flushing Meadows, where Watson is of course the underdog as she prepares to face Sharapova, now the world No 4 and one of the favourites to win the tournament. But if Watson has a chance anywhere, it is on the hard courts she loves so much.

‘It’s one of my favourite tournaments. The courts and the atmosphere are great – the crowd get really into it. I feel I can play really well there – I’ve been working very hard. I train in America, where it’s noisy and everyone’s playing music, so I guess I’m used to it. I like it because I’m a loud, bubbly person.

‘It’s the first Grand Slam I’ve got into through my ranking. When my mum told me, I thought she said "you’re two out" but she actually said "you’re two in". She was looking at me confused but I then realised and I was so excited.'

Getting the elbow: Watson was left gutted by an injury picked up at Wimbledon

Getting the elbow: Watson was left gutted by an injury picked up at Wimbledon

So she should be and then it’s all about building even more, trying to reach the top 80, top 50, and make up for her first-round exit at Wimbledon, where she lost from a set up against Mathilde Johansson because of an elbow injury.

‘I got so much support at Wimbledon, it was great. It was just a shame that after being a set up, I got that injury.

------------------------WITH PICTURES

‘I have people messaging me every day, wishing me luck,’ says the ever friendly 19-year-old, now the British No 3 and in her first Grand Slam by way of her ranking.

‘That support is really important to me. During a match, I get a ridiculous amount of Twitter messages, almost all really supportive. It’s amazing that many people are following me. I’m getting updates telling me what the score is after every game. I get some weird questions but I don’t have to answer them!’

Growing up first: Heather Watson enters the US Open this week through her ranking

Watson has become pretty popular. At the time of writing she has 7,677 Facebook fans and more than 9,000 Twitter followers – not bad for a girl very few people outside British tennis knew much about last year.

That 450 per cent increase in her fan base is partly down the her taking part in the Sony Ericsson Xperia Hot Shots campaign. It’s a programme designed to teach players about widening their appeal, dealing with the media and seeing what the likes of Sharapova go through on a daily basis.

Formidable opponent: Maria Sharapova is up first at Flushing Meadows

‘The most fun thing was getting to meet Trey Songz (an American RnB singer),’ says Watson, the 2009 Junior US Open champion. ‘I got to go to my fashion show in Miami too. I was really excited to do HotShots.

'I’ve got a bigger fan base now, I’ve learnt to post videos and photos of what I’m doing. It’s worked.

'The other week a mother and daughter came up to me in Westfield and congratulated me on how I’ve done so far. And someone asked for my picture at the airport in New York a couple of days ago.’

What's up, Watson? Brit star Heather is rapidly growing her profile

If Watson continues to play as well as she has done this year, she’s going to be posing for a lot more pictures.

This year has seen her break into the top 100, win a round at the French Open and, now, be given the chance to face 2006 champion Sharapova. Not that she is scared.

‘I am excited to be able to play Maria,’ she says. ‘I have never played her before and it should be very interesting. I am looking forward to a good, fast-paced match and I will just go for it.

Sharapova has been helping Watson increase her fan base as part of the Hot Shots programme but the hard court specialist knows that counts for nothing now.

‘It doesn’t feel like they are famous anymore. It’s just your competition. Some of them say hi, some don’t. Winning a round is not what I’m looking for. I’m going in for the tournament. I’m playing well and I believe in myself.’

Watson sounds happy when we talk – as she always does – and is full of enthusiasm about the changes in her life, including her new coach, former world No 78 Mauricio Hadad from Colombia – Sharapova’s former mentor.

‘Mauricio is my new coach. He's based half of the time Florida and half in Colombia, where he has an academy. I’ve known him since I came to the Bollettieri Academy when I was 12. I used to have private lessons with him. But he left after three years. But I called him to see if he wanted to work with me

'We started about six weeks ago. He’s very calm. I don’t work well with people who scream in my face because I won’t listen. He’s very smart. And he’s going to come to England to train with me after the US Open. He’s teaching me some Spanish – so he speaks it to me all the time. I’m getting a lot better.’

A companion who she gets along with is vital with so many weeks in a year away from her home in Guernsey.

‘I’m definitely travelling a lot, lot more. My life has changed a lot. It’s just been tennis, tennis, tennis. I’m loving it. I’ve done so many things and met so many cool people.’

One of the gang: The teenager enjoys a strong relationship with many of the other tour members

Cool sums up the feel at Flushing Meadows, where Watson is of course the underdog as she prepares to face Sharapova, now the world No 4 and one of the favourites to win the tournament. But if Watson has a chance anywhere, it is on the hard courts she loves so much.

‘It’s one of my favourite tournaments. The courts and the atmosphere are great – the crowd get really into it. I feel I can play really well there – I’ve been working very hard. I train in America, where it’s noisy and everyone’s playing music, so I guess I’m used to it. I like it because I’m a loud, bubbly person.

‘It’s the first Grand Slam I’ve got into through my ranking. When my mum told me, I thought she said "you’re two out" but she actually said "you’re two in". She was looking at me confused but I then realised and I was so excited.'

Getting the elbow: Watson was left gutted by an injury picked up at Wimbledon

So she should be and then it’s all about building even more, trying to reach the top 80, top 50, and make up for her first-round exit at Wimbledon, where she lost from a set up against Mathilde Johansson because of an elbow injury.

‘I got so much support at Wimbledon, it was great. It was just a shame that after being a set up, I got that injury.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2030567/US-Open-2011-Heather-Watson-welcomes-Maria-Sharapova-challenge.html#ixzz1WIkaZzI8