Maria Sharapova Match Quotations

I got off to a great start and then maybe I wasn't aggressive enough and let her into the match in the second set. I don't know exactly what happened, I just lost my concentration a bit, but was able to get back on track in the final set.

I was in that period right after I won Wimbledon, ... The next four months, I felt like I had to win every match. It's a matter of telling yourself that it's impossible to win everything ? no matter what people say. You can't control people's actions. My big thing is to just keep working hard. Because one day, you're going to be on court and you'll win a match and realize that the hard work paid off. That's exactly what I did last year. I lost here and I worked my butt off.

But strange things do happen in tennis and today's match was one of them.

I actually felt pretty good. I'm really happy about it because that's one of the first times I played a match without feeling anything. You know, I don't expect it to be that like for the whole tournament. So I'm very happy I got through that one without any pain.

Overall I'm happy to get through the match, but it definitely wasn't the best match I played,

I think today I played much better, especially in the first set, than in my first match on Wednesday,

It gives me a lot of confidence that I can pull out a win like that when there are points in the match where you don't feel great.

It comes on unexpectedly from day to day and I can't control it, ... I'm not a player who goes on court without intending to finish a match. It's bad enough to have to withdraw before you play, but to retire during a match is even more disappointing.

I think we got the point that there was a soccer match or something going on.

That wasn't really a match for me. I was already in the semis, so I just wanted to save my energy. Obviously, she must be playing great tennis but I just need to go out there and step it up if I want to be in the semis.

Wow! It's absolutely amazing, I can't believe I pulled this match out today,

It was up and down. I felt a little awkward in some situations because I haven't been match tough lately. I'm absolutely exhausted.

I know that I did not win this match fairly, ... I do not like such victories.

I knew I didn't win this match fairly. I don't like such victories,

I kind of gave it all I had in the tiebreaker and just basically ran out of gas in the third set. Physically, I have to get a lot better and play these three-setters where the points are going to go on and on. Today's match is a great example that it's physical.

It's never easy coming back after being a set up and then being up 3-1 and all of a sudden it becomes 3-all. You know, it's going to be a different match from there. But I guess I was playing the right way yesterday. When the rain started coming down, the conditions got a lot heavier. I was rushing it a little bit. I guess it was good just to have a good night's sleep.

In the beginning of the match I wanted to dictate from the first point, I think it was very important. In the second set obviously it was very tough, but I was able to finish it off.

I know I didn't win this match fairly,

I haven't played a lot of matches, so I'm just trying to get used to the conditions, the stadium, the wind, playing under the lights for the first time in a while. When you're out for a little while, first match you're a little tentative. The injury, you don't know how it's going to be. So far it's OK.

The first match is never easy. You don't know what to expect,

There was a lot of rustiness, ... The first match (after a layoff) is always tough. You practice hard and work on a lot of things, but the actual competition is totally different. I was just trying to get in a groove, get my feet wet.

That's one of the first times I played a match without feeling anything.

It's absolutely amazing, I can't believe I pulled this match out today, there were so many ups and downs, and somehow I found a way to fight, but a lot of credit to Nadia, she played an amazing match,

I do not have revenge on my mind, but I don't like losing to the same player twice in a row. Martina played some amazing tennis in Tokyo, but it is a different match tomorrow.