Reach for the Top - Maria Sharapova

 

Meanings to words and phrases:

disarming: likable

at odds with: in conflict with

poised: calm, elegant

pinnacle: the most successful point, the highest point of

rapid: fast, quick

ascent: growth, climb

endure: suffer patiently, withstand,

heart-wrenching: extremely sad

depress: sadden, feeling low

quitting: leaving, stopping, not going further

pursue: follow

bagging: winning

meteoric: very rapid

ambition: goal, aim

amply: plentifully

parades: displays, shows

sophisticated: fashionable

at odds with: in disagreement with

fizzy: aerated, bubbly

pigeon-holed: classified, categorized

unwavering: steady, firm

grudge: oppose, mind

Summary:

The success story of Maria Sharapova inspires us to remain determined and be ready to make sacrifices in order to fulfill our dreams. On 22 August 2005, Maria became the top-seeded player in the world women’s tennis player rankings. This lesson tells us about

At the tender age of nine, she left her home in Siberia, Russia to get training in tennis. She went to Florida in USA with her father. Maria suffered a painful separation from her mother for a period of two years. She could not see her father too as he remained busy working, arranging funds for all her needs. She was bullied by her seniors and being a foreigner, she had to suffer all that patiently. Maria did not feel depressed, rather she was prepared for greater insults too in order to achieve her aim.

Her mantra for success is to work hard and face the toughest competition. Although she was trained in the US, she considers herself to be a Russian and is willing to represent Russia at the Olympics too.

Her favourite hobbies are fashion, singing, and dancing. She loves reading novels written by Arthur Conan Doyle. Her love for fashionable evening gowns is in contrast to her liking for pancakes with chocolate spread and orange flavoured aerated drinks. The monetary gains and the fame incurred by Maria are well deserved.

Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph.1. How is Maria’s personality a mix of contrasts?
The maturity, balanced mind and inner strength of Maria do not appear to be in accordance with her glamorous dress or her charming manner and ready smile. There seems to be some mismatch between her

2. What does Maria declare to be her ‘mantra for success’?
Maria works really hard to fulfill her dreams. She does not shy away from making any sacrifice. She does not allow herself to be emotional and sentimental. She is very competitive and works hard to be the best in whatever she does. She is driven by her hunger to succeed and the dream of becoming the world number one in women’s tennis. This is her mantra for success.

3. Why was Maria brought to Florida in the USA by her father? Why didn’t her mother go with her? How did Maria respond to this separation?
Maria was brought to Florida, USA, by her father, Yuri, to get trained as a professional tennis player and reach great heights of success and stardom in this sport. Her mother, Yelena, did not go with her because of visa restrictions. This two-year separation was very painful for the young girl. But Maria endured this

4. Describe Maria’s struggle to reach at the top of the world in the field of the women tennis.
Maria started working to achieve her goal at a very young age, making any sacrifices required. She had to face separation from her mother and stay in completely unfamiliar and hostile surroundings for years. She also faced humiliation but never let it affect negatively. She took it as a challenge and with her mental toughness and competitive nature; she succeeded in achieving her goal.

5. In addition to tennis, what else is Maria fond of?
Maria’s first love is tennis. Apart from this sport, she is fond of fashion, singing and dancing like any other young girl of her age. She also likes to read Arthur Canon Doyle’s novels, is fond of sophisticated evening gowns and enjoys pancakes with chocolate-spread and fizzy orange drinks.

 6. The lives of Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova have much in common to prove that determined and consistent hard work paves the way to success. Identify the points of comparison and contrast in the lives of these two great players. (Long Answer Question)

Santosh Yadav, the legendary mountaineer from India, and Maria Sharapova, Russia’s tennis sensation who trained in the USA, are living examples that single-minded determination and dedication and consistent hard work are the way to success. Both young women had to struggle against odds to reach the top. Santosh belonged to a small village in the Rewari district of Haryana while Maria came from the frozen plains of Siberia where she did not have adequate training facilities.

 

Although both girls were supported by their respective parents, Santosh, at times, had to struggle to make her conservative family agree to her decisions, while Maria’s parents were willing to make any sacrifice to help Maria succeed. However, both the young girls had to sacrifice the loving and protective environment of their homes in order to train for their passion.

Both the women had unwavering determination, physical and mental strength, and undivided focus on their goals. They both rose to the number one position in their respective areas within a short span of four years. While Sharapova moved from the frozen Siberia to the plains of Florida, Yadav moved from the plains of Rewari to the frozen Mount Everest. But both of them are devout patriots and their love for their country remains constant.

Grammar Exercises:

Working in small groups of 4–5 students, go back over the two passages on Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova and complete the table given below with relevant phrases or sentences.

Points of Comparison/Contrast	Santosh Yadav	Maria Sharapova
1. Their humble beginning	She was born in the small village of Joniyawas of Rewari District in Haryana.	She was born in the frozen plains of Siberia.
2. Their parents’ approach	Her parents disapproved of her wish to study at a school in Delhi, however, later they accepted it.	Her father worked hard to arrange funds for her training.
3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed	Then there was no looking back for this determined young girl.	When you come from nothing and you have nothing, then it makes you very hungry and determined.
4. Evidence of their mental toughness	Equipped with an iron will, physical endurance, and an amazing mental toughness, she proved herself repeatedly.	Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined and mentally tough. I learned how to take care of myself.
5. Their patriotism	I felt proud as an Indian.	Though Maria Sharapova speaks with a pronounced American accent, she proudly parades her Russian nationality.