Ballet Beauty. Review on Maria Sharapova

Today I want to write about a champion who lost her title. She has been around for some time since 2001. Last year she won the Wimbledon title. This year she lost it to a former champion. Maria Sharapova, the ballerina in the tennis court.

When I watched her against Petrova in the Quarter Finals at Wimbledon this year, I knew what it was. Of course, it was good tennis. But I was moved by something else. The grace with which she moved in the court.

Everyday we watch many players, men and women, in many games, moving their well athletic figure in the ground. In my experience as a tennis lover, I've seen only three players doing it with grace. They are Chris Evert, Andre Agassi, and Maria Sharapova.

What is that beauty with which they do it? It’s inborn. Not something they have developed with sheer practice and expertise.

I don't know how many of you have watched Chris Evert playing in her best times. Her movement in the courts was quite graceful. The way she used both her hands to strike offside balls (backhand) was pleasing to the eye. Her blithe serves. You would feel that it was beauty flashing in the court.

Andre Agassi caught on my eyes from his younger days onwards. Oh boy, I love to watch him always! It’s sad that I can't see him nowadays. Even his walking in the court is gentle and beautiful. I loved his ponytail when he had it. I loved his bald when he shaved his head. Now you may think that I'm a great fan of his. No! As a tennis lover, I love to see Stephan Edberg and Boris Becker playing and winning the game but I don't mind if Agassi loses it.

Now comes Maria Sharapova. This Siberian beauty reminded me of Russian ballets, especially Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. Most of you might have seen her playing. Just recall that experience. She comes down to serve the ball. She jigs two-three times. Not to warm her up but to cheer her up. It is quite charming. Remember she is six feet tall. Usually it is not very eye-catching to watch tall people jumping. But her jigging conveys the feeling of beauty. Then she springs the ball twice. She does it very slowly as if she has all the time in the world to do so. It’s like a slow motion scene. Now she prepares to serve. Her stance is extremely beautiful. I have to confess that I have never seen a tennis player taking such a beautiful stance before the service. She bends her body backward, her right foot bends at the knee, her torso curves slightly upward and her head is tilted a bit backward. She concentrates for a few seconds before she delivers a beautiful serve. Her serves are usually not very powerful. I think a small part of her energy is taken away by Goddess Venus for bestowing on her those beautiful serves. Then she begins to move. I never saw a single awkward movement from her. All her movements are beautiful and gentle. It’s a great pleasure to watch her.

Maria Sharapova is a great tennis player. I don't have to recommend her to anyone. I just wanted to highlight the aesthetics in her play. She gives us not only the pleasure of watching a great game but also the pleasure of watching overflowing beauty.

I know that many fans of hers download her pictures and use them to beautify their desktops. I advise them not to do so! Instead, download her streaming video and watch her moving. Especially, the clips of her stance just before she serves the ball!

A thing of beauty is a joy for those who are not blind.

Thank you for reading.