Top Russian tennis players Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva thanked Taiwanese fans for their support on Thursday night after an exhibition match in Taipei, adding that they looked forward to coming back.
Sharapova and Zvonareva, who are both visiting Taiwan for the first time, showcased their skills and played a great game at the Taipei Arena, in which Sharapova beat Zvonareva 6-3, 6-4.
Their visit is aimed at promoting the sport and motivating more young people to play.
Photo: Reuters
“It’s so energetic tonight, with so many fans that really appreciate what we do, which is very nice to play in front of them,” Sharapova, 24, told the media at a news conference after the match.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for their support and both of us look forward to coming back,” the world No. 2 said.
GRATITUDE
Photo: AFP
Meanwhile, Zvonareva, 27, also expressed her gratitude to the crowd, which was passionate and supportive, cheering out loud when the two entered the court as well as when there was a good play.
“It was a great opportunity for both of us to come here and play in front of our fans. We definitely enjoyed the atmosphere,” the world No. 4 said.
“I think we’ve got a great crowd, and everyone was supporting us. You know, my stay in Taiwan is very short, but I definitely enjoyed it,” she added.
The two world-class tennis players were scheduled to leave for Japan yesterday, ending their short visit to Taipei.
Their visit will be followed by the arrival of the world No. 2 male tennis star Rafael Nadal of Spain and his compatriot David Ferrer, also for an exhibition match that will be played at Linkou Stadium in New Taipei City on Oct. 1.
EFFORTS
The two matches are part of efforts to try to produce Taiwan’s own world-class tennis players.
Earlier this year, former stars Andre Agassi and Marat Safin played exhibition matches against Taiwanese players in Taipei and Kaohsiung.
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