Maria Sharapova has stated that she intends to play through the pain barrier as she bids to recapture the Wimbledon crown. The Russian star saw off Yung-Yan Chan 6-1 7-5 in her first-round match today.
The number two seed, a fairytale winner here in 2004, had been troubled by a shoulder injury recently.
At times this afternoon Sharapova, 20, looked sluggish in her first-round match against Yung-Jan Chan on Court One.
In the end, though, the former world number one found enough to see off Chan and complete her 6-1 7-5 victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
Sharapova was runner-up at the Australian Open, and is the defending US Open champion.
Despite a troubled season fitness wise, the young Russian remains determined as ever to succeed at the All England Club.
Sharapova reflected: ‘Doctors say it does not really make a difference if I take time off or not.
‘I do not know why, but they say if I can play with it, if the pain is not too severe.
‘They tell me it is more of a strength issue, and that is something which is going to be very important after this tournament.
‘Probably for three weeks after, I will have of no tournaments and am going to be working on a lot of strength.’
Sharapova missed a few straightforward chances to kill off her opponent, perhaps due to her lack of confidence in the shoulder.
However, the Russian number two seed still managed to crash down the odd serve over 100mph.
She accepted: ‘Some days are better than others.
‘Some days I do not have as much confidence in my arm.
‘During this tournament, I will have to be on anti-inflammatories if anything.
‘But it is just really how you deal with it.
‘Like I said, as long as I get an okay from the doctors.
‘They have given me a green light as long as I can manage the pain.
‘It is in my hands to manage it as much as I can.’
Sharapova was, as ever, supported by her father, Yuri, at SW19 today.
The tennis star accepts her dad is certainly ‘a character’, often censured for attempting to coach his daughter from the stands.
Sharapova said: ‘Unfortunately you only get to see my dad when I am playing tennis matches, and you only get to see him on the stands.
‘I mean, he by himself would make a really good reality show.
‘That is one of the things I propose to him actually now or after my career is over.
‘He is a really hilarious guy in his own way without even thinking about it or trying to be funny.’
Sharapova added: ‘He has a huge heart. I don't think a lot of people see it.
‘For both my mom and dad to sacrifice so much, I mean, he's got to have a heart.
‘I am very lucky because he probably loves me more than anyone else in the world.
‘He has been with me through all the good times, through all the bad times.
‘In his own way, he is tough and he is definitely taught me to be tough in life and in tennis - but at the end of the day he has a huge heart, and that is what makes him really special.’
