１９年は苦しんだシャラポワ、「闘志とモチベーション」は持ち続けている

【アブダビＡＦＰ＝時事】女子テニスの元世界ランキング1位で、四大大会（グランドスラム）通算5勝を誇るマリア・シャラポワ（ロシア）は19日、今年長期にわたり欠場することになった肩の故障を抱えているものの、プロとして戦っていく上での「闘志とモチベーション」は持ち続けていると強調した。（写真はマリア・シャラポワ）
　２０１９年シーズンはわずか８大会の出場にとどまり、合計でも１５試合しかプレーしていないシャラポワは、アラブ首長国連邦（ＵＡＥ）のアブダビで行われているエキシビション大会、ムバダラ・ワールド・テニス選手権でオーストラリアのアイラ・トムリャノビッチと対戦し、いずれのセットも１ブレークダウンから巻き返して６-４、７-５で勝利した。
　初戦敗退となった８月の全米オープン以来、はじめてコートに復帰したシャラポワは試合後、報道陣に対して、「長い間プレーしていなかったから、どんな機会でもコートに出てプレーできるのは本当に良いこと」「再びここに来て試合できるのは本当にうれしいし、ここから調子を上げていくだけ」とコメントした。
　肩のけがの状態に関してあまり多くは語らなかったものの、トムリャノビッチ戦の後は「良い気分だった」と話しつつ、４か月近くも離れていたツアーの今後のスケジュールは様子を見ていくとしており、来月の全豪オープンテニスに向けて南半球に遠征する計画は立てている一方で、東京五輪ではプレーしないと明言した。
　シャラポワはプレーの調子や肩の状態が疑問視される中で、２０２０年シーズンのカレンダーについては決めていないといい、「来年のスケジュールを決めるのは、自分にとって最大の問題の一つになる」とすると、「オーストラリアに行くことは本当に楽しみだし、プレーの調子や体力が続くか見ていきたい」と話した。
　現在の世界ランキングが１３１位まで後退している中で、シャラポワは競技から引退することは考えていないことに加え、アスリート人生にけがはつきもであると実感していると強調。その点については、同じく今大会に出場している男子のラファエル・ナダル（スペイン）が、キャリアを通じてけがとうまく折り合いをつけていることに刺激を受けているという。
　シャラポワは世界１位でグランドスラム通算１９勝を誇るナダルについて、「これまでの彼のキャリアには感服している。特にそう思うのは、スケジュールに関する戦略が本当にスマートだということ」「試合では常に自信を持っていたいというのが彼の考え方で、それには体が健康でないといけない。だから、正しい決断をする必要があり、そこが彼から大いに学べる部分であることは間違いない」と語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2019/12/20-11:48）

Maria Sharapova insisted Thursday that she still has the internal fire and motivation to compete professionally, despite the lingering shoulder problem that kept her out of action for long stretches this season.
The former world number one was only able to play in eight events in 2019, contesting just 15 matches in total.
The Russian five-time major champion made her first on-court appearance since her US Open first round exit in August in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, where she fought back from a break down in each set to defeat Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 7-5.
Any chance that I get to come out and play competitively is a really good day because I just haven't played a lot, Sharapova told reporters at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
Definitely I'm coming out of this match happy that I was out there again and it can only get better from here.
While she wouldn't reveal too many details about the state of her shoulder injury, she did say she felt fine after her clash with Tomljanovic, while keeping her expectations in check having been sidelined for nearly four months.
Sharapova plans on travelling Down Under for next month's Australian Open but confirmed she will not be playing the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
With many question marks still surrounding her form and her shoulder, she's unsure what her 2020 calendar will look like.
I think that will be one of the biggest challenges for the new year, it's to have a set schedule, said the 32-year-old.
I definitely look forward to going to Australia and seeing how things go, see how the body holds up there.
- 'In awe of Nadal' -
It's tough to tell, I've barely played any events last year. The start and stopping was one of the most challenging parts of the year as well, just when you think I got going a little bit I had to tone it down and stop and then just keep training. Although it seems I haven't played actually I've been working a lot.
The US-based Russian will fly home for Christmas, then compete in a couple of exhibition matches in Hawaii, before heading to Australia where she plans on playing a warm-up event ahead of the opening Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne.
Asked how she's been able to maintain her spirits during her lengthy struggle with injuries, Sharapova added: I really love what I do. I think you see it when I am on the court, when I do have the chance to compete, I really enjoy being there. I really have a great purpose for what I do.
I have goals and dreams for life after tennis, but I still have that internal fire and motivation. Really, all on my mind when I wake up is getting into my sports gear and going out and working to be a better tennis player.
Now down at 131 in the world rankings, Sharapova insists she hasn't considered retirement from the sport just yet, and realises injuries are part of every athlete's life.
She said she takes inspiration from Rafael Nadal, who has had his fair share of injuries himself.
I'm in awe of his whole career. I think a lot of it is being really smart strategically about his schedule.
From his point of view, he likes a lot of matches to feel confident, but you need to be healthy in order to do that, so you have to make the right decisions and that's certainly something that I can learn from him, she said of the Spanish world number one and 19-time major winner who is also competing at the UAE tournament.