- 29
- Jan
Russian Sharapova looking forward to this week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo says she deserves to be the world number one, Reuters news agency reports.
“I’m excited to get to number one and hopefully I can keep it for many weeks to come,” she says.
Sharapova admitted to having some mixed feelings, however, about reaching the summit of the women’s game following her defeat to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final.
“Obviously after every loss you’re disappointed and as an athlete, it’s never fun losing. But at the end of the day, I reached the final of a grand slam in my first tournament of the year,” 19-year-old said.
Sharapova won the tier one Pan Pacific Open in 2005 and quickly promised to make up for a surprise defeat by Martina Hingis in last year’s semi-finals.
Hingis who ranked sixth after reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals won Pan Pacific Open in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002 and now bids to win a record fifth title at the $1.3 million tournament.
“I’ve got to the final a few times here,” said Hingis. “Hopefully it will bring out the best in me again.”
Source:Mosnews
