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12/22/2024 10:20:01 pm

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French Open 2015 Update: Maria Sharapova Booed at Roland Garros

Maria Sharapova Booed!

(Photo : Getty Images) After winning her first-round match at Roland Garros, defending champion Maria Sharapova was booed after her refusal for a post-game, on-court interview.

World No. 2 Maria Sharapova walked off Court Philippe Chatrier under a chorus of jeers and boos following her dominant first round win over No. 15 ranked Estonian, Kaia Kanepi, 6-2, 6-4 at this year's French Open.

Sharapova, who won the tournament in 2012 and 2014, declined to do a customary post-match interview inside the French Open's main court, claiming her "voice is broken." After the announcement, the passionate and often opinionated French fans immediately made sure their disapproval was heard all over Roland Garros.

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She later revealed to reporters that she has been suffering from a cold, similar to her start in last year's tournament in Paris (per China Daily).

The defending champion, however, showed no signs of illness when she defeated Spain's No. 8 ranked Carla Suarez Navarro at the 2015 Italian Open less than two weeks prior. She has also displayed her mastery of the clay courts, winning 63 or her last 69 matches dating back to 2012 and earning the title as the Queen of Clay.

Sharapova has won five major titles in the past - Wimbledon in 2004, The US Open in 2006, The Australian Open in 2008, and the two French Open titles. According to CNN, if she reaches the finals this year, it will mark the fourth straight year she will be competing for the title, making her the first female player to achieve such feat since Stefi Graf from 1987 to 1990.

Clay-court had been her weakest surface but years of dedication and hard training allowed her to conquer the surface the past few years.

Her victory over Kanepi sets her up with a second round clash against fellow Russian and Fed Cup teammate, No. 71 Vitalia Diatchenko.

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