Maria Sharapova gives candid update, confirming confidence struggles and new coaching direction

Maria Sharapova has admitted that her confidence is taking a bit of a bettering as she struggles to regain her form and rhythm after injury.
The former world number one and five-time Grand Slam winner is in danger of dropping out of the top 100 in the world after her first round defeat to Anett Kontaveit at the Rogers Cup.
It was only her 12th match of the season due to a persistent shoulder injury, and Sharapova admits her confidence is struggling right now.
“I’m still building the confidence and my forms and that’s something that’s just going to come with time and with match play,” she said.
“Unfortunately, I just haven’t had that yet, so will just hopefully try to build on it.” She said.
“There’s never the perfect scenario. I’m going to be coming up against tough players, long matches, and there are always going to be tests. And I always have to play my best tennis no matter who I play.
“So it will just take time to build that confidence again, because I have struggled with it for a long time.”
“There are always going to be tests,” Maria Sharapova says in press. “I would love to keep competing and come through these kinds of matches (this year)” #RC19 pic.twitter.com/k1CHWEg2ki
— Rogers Cup (@rogerscup) August 6, 2019
She has sought some extra coaching help in an attempt to get herself out of her slump, forming an association with former Novak Djokovic and Milos Raonic coach Riccardo Piatti.
“I crashed his summer camp.” She joked.
“I spent a few weeks in Europe working with Riccardo Piatti, which was really nice and just a different perspective from someone that didn’t expect me.
“We all had a great time. I worked really hard, but I felt — really, I felt like I had fun at the end of it, which was really important.’
“He’ll be at the US Open, which will be nice. He looks after a few kids so, we’ll be together there.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka dedicates Australian Open trophy to her ‘crazy’ team
Aryna Sabalenka says her team deserve the Australian Open trophy more than she does.
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka proves doubters wrong with emotional Grand Slam triumph
Aryna Sabalenka found another level to win brutal Australian Open final.
-
Tennis News
Aryna Sabalenka goes from underarm serving and 428 double faults in 2022 to mentality monster in 2023
Aryna Sabalenka has gone from underarm serving to coming up clutch in big moments en route to winning Australian Open.
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka powers her way to Australian Open title with impressive win over Elena Rybakina
Aryna Sabalenka is a Grand Slam champion!
-
Australian Open
Elena Rybakina’s coach Stefano Vukov under fire: ‘I hope she finds a coach who speaks and treats her with respect’
Stefano Vukov hasn’t made too many friends with his behaviour during matches.
-
Australian Open
Third time lucky for Alfie Hewett as he sets sights on being ‘figurehead’ for wheelchair tennis
The 25-year-old from Norfolk won his maiden Australian Open wheelchair singles title.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic’s family ‘upset’ over flag uproar as Australian Open chief urges them ‘to be really careful’
“The family were very good. They were upset that it was taken that way.”
-
Australian Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ mentality and forehand labelled big weapons ahead of Novak Djokovic final
Stefanos Tsitsipas “in a different state of mind” after difficult 2022.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas labelled a dream final
It is almost time to settle the new World No 1.
-
Australian Open
Inside story on the technology propelling Stefanos Tsitsipas to the top
Adidas have taken its tennis offering to a new level with the release of their Adizero Cybersonic tennis shoe.