Sharapova Booed for Refusing On-Court Interview After Straight Win

Paris (PNA/Xinhua) — Defending champion Maria Sharapova made easy through to the second round at Roland Garros on Monday, but was booed after refusing to do a post-match interview inside Court Philippe Chatrier.

The world No. 2 Russian beat Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 6-4 in just one hour and 25 minutes on the court where she twice claimed the French Open triumph in 2012 and 2014.

Having made only four unforced errors, the 28-year-old won three games in a row to wrap up the first set.

Kanepi buried a backhand into the net to hand Sharapova a break in the fourth game of the second, but broke back making use of the Russian’s unforced errors.

The 187cm beauty then wasted one match point before wrapping up the match in straight sets on a double fault from the Estonian.

Chaos of boos from the crowd, however, jammed the stadium after the emcee announced that Sharapova “preferred not to get interviewed since her voice is broken”, while the second seed was packing to leave.

Famous with her grunt, Sharapova, a five-time major winner who comes to Paris with a big clay win in Rome two weeks ago, kept in lower tone during Monday’s routine win.

“I got sick a week before the tournament, not right before. So I guess it’s a little bit better timing,” she told a post-match press conference as memories were recalled of last year’s French Open where she’s also sick at the start of the tournament.

“But it’s just the way it is. I’m getting over it, and hopefully it will pass by soon,” added Sharapova.

“Unless I’m really in my coffin, I’m going to be out there,” she said with a laughter.

When a journalist pointed out how different she sounded, the Russian said: “It was really the least of my worries today. Such a big occasion obviously for me to be back on center court, and a tough opponent ahead of me.”

“So, really, overall, I just happy I got through and have a day off tomorrow and I should be better by then.”

She didn’t think it’s harsh to be booed at the end, but saying she “totally understand that”.

“Everyone usually does post-game interviews and answers a few questions to the crowd. It’s absolutely normal. I don’t — I’m not making any excuses or — but I’ve got to do what I have to do,” she said.

Sharapova, who has collected all four Grand Slam trophies since she claimed the maiden victory in 2004 in Wimbledon as a 17-year-old, will face fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko in the second round. (PNA/Xinhua) JBP/EBP