Maria Sharapova’s Victory At The U.S. Open Was One With Controversy

At the age of 19, Maria Sharapova won the US Open for the first time in 2006, but her victory wasn’t without controversy.

Maria Sharapova’s Victory At The U.S. Open Was One With Controversy

She won the second of her five Grand Slam tennis titles by defeating Justine Henin in straight sets in the final at Flushing Meadows, but as she was on her way to the victory, Sharapova was questioned about the alleged signals she allegedly received from her father and hitting partner during matches at the Open, including holding up four fingers or waving a banana.

The Russian explained that she occasionally forgets to hydrate, and any hand signals from her team were intended to remind her to do so.

When asked about it again after the final, Sharapova deflected the question, saying it wasn’t what she wanted to be talking about on a night she earned another major championship. “I believe, at the end of the day, personally, my life is not about a banana,” Sharapova said post-match. “It’s not about what I wear. It’s not about the friends that I have.”

“My career right now is about winning a tennis match. And right now, I’m sitting here as a U.S. Open champion, and the last thing I think people need to worry about is a banana.”

Over the course of her career, Sharapova frequently used that tactic, but in her title match against Justine Henin in Queens in 2006, she found herself defending the fruit from conspiracy theorists who thought it was being used for a more sinister reason.

Prior to a few years ago, the tennis’ governing organizations had rather strong restrictions prohibiting players from speaking with their coaches in the middle of a match. However, in 2020 and 2022, the WTA and ATP, respectively, loosened those rules.

As it stands right now, coaches are allowed to communicate with players for no more than 25 seconds in between hand signals that they transmit to players during a game.

 

 

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