Dominika Cibulkova: I Don’t Feel Sorry For Maria Sharapova, I Won’t Miss Her, She’s Arrogant, Concieted And Cold

Wow. That’s an incredible thing to say about someone you share a locker room with week in and week out.

April 6th, 2016 at 10:56 am

Nothing new here really. Here’s what some other players said right after.

From http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/12/kristina-mladenovic-maria-sharapovapa-cheater-tour-simona-halep

Kristina Mladenovic: “She wasn’t really liked. I respected her for her career but she wasn’t really nice nor polite, let’s be honest.”

Simona Halep: “I didn’t speak with her before; there’s no reason to speak now.”

April 6th, 2016 at 11:11 am

I put it down to pure envy.

April 6th, 2016 at 11:26 am

Why should we hope “when Sharapova does return to tennis, her first match is against Cibulkova.”?

It’s long been clear that Sharapova isn’t the most amiable of players. If not for the shrieking, I would admire her determination much more, but her
personal iciness is simply being reciprocated in kind.

April 6th, 2016 at 11:46 am

I’m not a Sharapova fan. This being said, there are usually reasons why a person is the way they are. If she’s cold and distant with her opponents it may be because of some experiences she’s had.

Sharapova’s not a terribly bad sport when she loses compared to some of her peers. Radwanska behaves putridly when she loses as do several others on tour. It’s harder for me to accept a millionaire sulking around after a loss than it than the person just keeping to themselves.

And as for other players not liking Sharapova? It’s mostly just the green eyed monster in them. They envy her looks, her success and her fame. That can easily make others resentful.

April 6th, 2016 at 1:17 pm

These statments just speak about themselves and shows how jealous and pathetic these two little bit€hes are. Low class jab well below belt.I am not Serena fan but she took high road on this matter and I respect her for that.
One more thing, if people are not talking to others that doesn’t make them necessarily bad people, they just prefer to keep to themselves, Maria didn’t do any harm nor insulted them or anybody, apart of that exchange with Serena while back, which was fun to read.
I really wish Maria comes back and kicks their jealous asses.

April 6th, 2016 at 2:43 pm

I agree with the sentiment that these comments are petty and partly due to jealousy, but being nice costs nothing and pays dividends. Had Sharapova not been above saying a simple hello when entering the locker room, she probably would have a lot more support from them right now.

April 6th, 2016 at 3:25 pm

RZ,

How do we know exactly what happens in the locker room and who are Cibilkova or Mladenovic to judge Maria?
There are different types of people, extrovert, introvert and so on, unless they are doing bad things to you or others, you don’t really have right to judge them publicly in negative way just because they don’t talk to you. How many people we have at our work places who are minding their own business, don’t go after work with others in pub, don’t share their holiday pictures with us, don’t talk about their love life, hardly acknowledge you..do we have right to call them names publicly because they are just who they are in no harm way.

April 6th, 2016 at 4:04 pm

If you look at this video clip you can see that Cibulkova is bloody lier, she is calling Maria friend and they are chatting like good friends, I guess they were chatting in the locker room back then:

http://youtu.be/awPeLuXCDfg

April 6th, 2016 at 4:11 pm

@WB – you are right that it’s a question of taking one person’s word over another’s, and us fans have no idea of what really happens in the locker room. But I think it’s telling that there have been very few strong statements of support – though it’s possible that more are out there but they aren’t “click bait” so they don’t get attention.

However, on your point about different personality types, I don’t see that as an excuse for people not to be polite. A simple hello, small smile or nod, or some sort of acknowledgement goes a long way rather than just ignoring those around. I know a lot of introverts and they do at least that much in the name of politeness.

April 6th, 2016 at 5:17 pm

RZ,

We don’t really know whether she acknowledged them or not in the locker room, do we? I personally don’t believe she walks in and of the locker room without saying hello, or just shake her head as acknowledgment after eye contact. That vide is a proof that Cibulka is not truthful and trustworthy.
It could be that Cibulkova and Mladenovic were after Dimitrov, but Masha beat them to him, she aced them..

April 6th, 2016 at 5:25 pm

RZ,

We don’t really know whether she acknowledged them or not in the locker room, do we? I personally don’t believe she walks in and out of the locker room without saying hello, or simply shakes her head as acknowledgment after eye contact. That video is a proof that Cibulka is not truthful and trustworthy.
It could be that Cibulkova and Mladenovic were after Dimitrov, but Masha beat them to him, she aced them..

April 6th, 2016 at 5:27 pm

When Maria was on Chelsea Lately, she said she had a reputation for being a b*tch with the other girls on tour, claiming i dont exactly give them high fives in the showers, i try to get out of there as soon as possible its not my thing, she also said before Wimbledon a couple of years ago im in this to win titles, im not interested in making friends, i think it was Grendel that said she also cold shouldered Vika when the two women were travelling on the same plane ….

Anyway im not saying she has to be bussom buddies with the other girls on tour, hell knows theres one or two i work with that i dont like, but i dont just ignore them out of hand, i speak if they speak to me out of politeness, as its easier, i just dont associate with them away from my everyday job ….

April 6th, 2016 at 5:37 pm

They envy her looks, her money, her fame ?, Cibulkova might envy Marias money and her fame which is fair enough ? , but Cibulkova is a very attractive bubbly girl herself, so she has nothing to feel jealous of on that score IMO, Marias attractive, but she doesnt have the monopoly on good looks on the WTA, there are plenty of atttactive girls on tour ….

April 6th, 2016 at 5:46 pm

GL,

But you don’t compete with your workmates for titles, money or boyfriends, do you?

April 6th, 2016 at 5:47 pm

Wogboy true enough, but a civil word doesnt go a miss ….

April 6th, 2016 at 5:52 pm

I would like to see faces of Cibulkova and Mladenovic in the locker room when (and if) Maria returns and walks in:) I think that they are believing Maria is done and that’s why they are so cocky.

April 6th, 2016 at 5:58 pm

Wogboy, Simona Halep doesnt sound too keen either, i think it goes back to the FO in 2014 when she was kept waiting in between serves, Sharapova has always been one for games-man-ship ….

April 6th, 2016 at 6:04 pm

Maria kept losing matches that she should’ve won & acted really arrogant between serves, like when her opponent had an injury.
Azarenka had a bad ankle & timeout, and she looked shocked that Maria stood at the back board like she had no concern for her.
She isn’t that nice to most players, especially the ones who worked hard & beat Serena. She can be jealous too.
No wonder she hangs around with clown Chelsea.

Of course, when the greedy sponsors told her how beautiful she was, she became very talkative, outgoing & greedy too.
I’m sure her dad made her very icy & determined to get what she wanted, no matter how cold she acted.
I noticed some spoiled men behaved like her too.
Like Fed & Roddick.

April 6th, 2016 at 6:36 pm

this smacks of kicking a person when she/ he is down: why not say this to her when she is around as opposed to the media when she is banned. seems cowardly?

April 6th, 2016 at 7:41 pm

agree with Jane.

And no matter what they say they still wont equal her titles and records and money

April 6th, 2016 at 7:47 pm

Sorry for thst double post, one was under moderation so I changed few words (though they were not bad one as you can see) and reposted it, meanwhile moderator let the first one through.

jane,

You said it again:) It took me few posts and I couldn’t get to the point, then you came around and said it all in a few words. I still have to work hard on my writing skills..

April 6th, 2016 at 8:19 pm

I have no problem with Cibulkova’s comments – where is it written that you have like everyone or say nice things about them? It can improve the living drama of sports when we know that players don’t like each other.

Mind you, I also don’t have a problem with Sharapova not being “nice” outside the court – I don’t care about that. On the court, she breaks the time violation on nearly every point and her shrieking is very annoying, but other than that I find her to be sporting. The rest of it, I couldn’t care less…except in as much as the competitive confrontation is made more juicy.

April 6th, 2016 at 8:22 pm

Well? I was feeling bad for Maria and posted about it this week on the Charleston tournament thread. Then I looked up the latest news for Sharapova. She’s not sitting around depressed as I imagined – at least it doesn’t appear that way: vacationing on a beach with pal Chelsea Handler in Cabo.

Even when I do feel bad for Maria and I do in moments, I still agree with Andy Murray about her situation.

As far as Cibby, Kiki, Simona, and other WTA player comments – I’m with MMT and have no problem with it. And I have no problem with her not caring about building friendships on tour. She openly admits not wanting to make friends there herself – hence, I doubt any comments made by her tour player peers came as a surprise.

Good luck Maria.

April 6th, 2016 at 9:08 pm

I thought Sharapova was very poorly behaved when she was playing Ivanovic in Cincinnati year before last. Her shrieking also seems to be designed to interfere with her opponent’s game. So I’m not in the camp that thinks Maria is a good sport.

She’s not required to engage with anyone, but even Serena has mellowed out on that front over the years. You reap what you sow.

April 6th, 2016 at 10:26 pm

This is a long time coming – the behavior of Sharapova reaping it’s harvest. Each workplace has it’s norms of behavior, the WTA is no different. Yes, there are cliques, cabals, straight crowd vs. lez crowd, occasional catfights – but from the sounds of things Maria is far far outside the norms the other players usually follow.
It goes past the court and practice courts and locker room/gym. Even on the town, she will not acknowledge most WTA players but will cheerfully great any agents, ATP players, organizers WITH them! And word has leaked back about Sharapova speaking disparagingly about others.
It was no surprise at all that she had no Tour buddies warning her about the new drug test rules, or the near complete absence of sympathy when she went down save for Serena and Djokovic doing “Champion’s duty” and wishing her well because that is the right thing for champions to do.

(One thing that plays in this deserves mention as well. Call it jealousy if you wish, but there was always going to be a problem with the WTA suits steerng endorsements to “The Face of the Strong Beautiful WTA”. When they picked a pet that wanted nothing to do with the rest of the players who were treated as beneath her, paraphrasing Domi, Halep, etc.. )

April 6th, 2016 at 10:40 pm

Halep was asked by the press, if she did contact Sharapova after “the meldonium issue”. Halep replied honestly without to say something bad or good towards Sharapova.
It is strange that Cibulkova and Mladenovic made all this affirmations about Masha only after her ban, like Jane suggested.

April 6th, 2016 at 11:30 pm

I am also pretty sure that Sharapova had no high expectations regarding support from her WTA colleagues, since she never cared about beeing liked by them

April 6th, 2016 at 11:35 pm

It is weird, that no sympathy message came from her russians fed cup mates…that tells a lot, what can she expect from the others then…

April 6th, 2016 at 11:45 pm

I think the people are missing the point, it is not about Sharapova, whether she is this or that, but about gutless players who didn’t have a guts to tell her that in the face while on tour, but instead doing it now (in their respective home countries) when they think she is finished and when they know they are not going to see her face in face.
I am not Sharapova fan, but she is the last person that needs anybody to pity her or feel sorry for her, nor she pity herself, that is for weak people and she is not one of them. She takes it on the chin and carry on, that is why she is enjoying the beach instead of sitting at home and crying as some posters expect her to do.

April 6th, 2016 at 11:46 pm

VP,

You are wrong, she has plenty of simphaty and support, including from Russian tennis federation and president himself, even she doesn’t leave in Russia but in the states.

April 6th, 2016 at 11:49 pm

^^ President of Russian tennis federation ..

April 6th, 2016 at 11:50 pm

WB,

I am talking about Makarova and her others fed cup colleagues…did read somewhere that she did not like beeing in contact with her Fed cup mates when they meet eachother. I did not meant the fed cup president

April 6th, 2016 at 11:52 pm

VP

Halep did not make any disparaging comment from the difference of other two. She just answered that she was talking (privately) to Maria before so why do they expect her to do that now, it would be awkward. When she sad “she wasn’t talking to her” it didn’t mean she was on bad terms with her, just that they were not friends who exchange messages and phone calls as you do with friends, nothing wrong with that statement.

April 6th, 2016 at 11:55 pm

Exactly WB, that was my point.
Am also sure, that Maria did not expect pity messages from WTA or others.
Cibulkova and Mladenovic went to far with theyr comments.

April 6th, 2016 at 11:59 pm

VP,
Those things are between girls from the same country, for example, it is well known in Serbia that Jelena and Ana can’t stand each other and Ana finally pulled out of fedcup for good few weeks ago. Jelena even insulted Ana and called her the names, but is internally, like when people in family argue, but outside home they are united, same with Russians, I read they are all supporting her, starting with Sveta.

April 7th, 2016 at 12:03 am

WB,

Then I am taking back my comments about the russian fed cup girls. Hope I did not offend somebody here.:D

April 7th, 2016 at 12:06 am

Why would you offend anybody, we are just talking, exchanging our views and informations.

April 7th, 2016 at 12:09 am

PS for WB,

Since Ana is with Bastian, theyr career is in 2 plan (for both), I guess :)

April 7th, 2016 at 12:12 am

Where is mat4 when I need him, he comes here only to argue with me..grrr.

April 7th, 2016 at 12:13 am

VP,

I have information that Ana and Bastian are getting married this summer. She is probably moving to Germany, the only reason she hired Kim’s father again is to be close to Bastian in England.

April 7th, 2016 at 12:17 am

there’s a lot about this situation we don’t know.
what do the players really act like in the locker room? was maria arrogant; as a result did she anger a number of players?
or maybe she is just “all business” and carries on with her “work” without bothering with chumminess.
did these particular players tell off maria to her face before her ban, or are they using this moment for smack talk through the media? maybe both? who knows.
then, is maria now galavanting around during her ban, or was she depressed and perhaps her friend said “let’s get away” and so they went on a trip?
the reality is that so much about these situations is “behind closed doors,” so we really can’t know. we can formulate views based on reports, appearances, & words.. but only the people themselves know what’s really going on.

April 7th, 2016 at 12:17 am

WB, I love Schweiny. I was desapointed when he left Bayern for Man United. Hate Guardiola for that. Something funny: We can call Bastian Ferkelficker, due to his first name ;)

April 7th, 2016 at 12:41 am

I’m sure comments like this will never come out from any player’s in ATP,they’re respect each other very much,unlike WTA who always allowed their emotions got to them professionally and personally..

April 7th, 2016 at 3:18 am

Lol AM. Now you think like a misogynist, it is the “hormone” thing

April 7th, 2016 at 4:59 am

Sharapova doesnt have to associate with fellow players or be friends with them away from tour, but a hello or good morning, a civil word doesnt go a miss, and this does sound like sour grapes girls that are jealous of her success to bring it up now, Serena did take the high ground, however she is by far the superior player, so has no axe to grind, and i do like her attitude of im here to win titles and not make friends, and ive always found the friendships between the male players a bit irritating to be honest, especially with some of the rivalries been so close grrr ….

April 7th, 2016 at 5:22 am

Hey VP..how are you today?I take it work less stress in the middle of the week yes?..you’re right though..it is the “hormone” thingy..

April 7th, 2016 at 5:33 am

Hey VP..can i ask you one thing?And if you’re rejected i will be embarrassed till next decade..i want to reach you at facebook..can i?

April 7th, 2016 at 5:43 am

Hi AM,

Well I am fine, there is still stress at work, but tomorrow is finally Friday ;)
How are you?

April 7th, 2016 at 5:51 am

I’m fine too VP,thank you for asking..are you excited to know the Monte draw VP?

April 7th, 2016 at 6:10 am

AM, did not manage to think about MC yet, tbh, but looking forward to it :)

April 7th, 2016 at 6:17 am

Really VP..but the draw will come out tomorrow right?I can’t wait to see who’s gonna be champion’s there..

April 7th, 2016 at 6:21 am

yep, as far as I know we should have the draw tomorrow :)

April 7th, 2016 at 6:53 am

@AndyMira

You’re kidding right? What about McEnroe/Connors or Roddick/Djokovic or Henman/Nalbandian? And the list can still go on. I mean just last week Murray and Stakhovsky were having a go at each other.

April 7th, 2016 at 7:08 am

You’re right Tennisfan..somehow i’m going senile for a while..forgive my mistake..

April 7th, 2016 at 7:53 am

Murray/Rosol ….

April 7th, 2016 at 8:08 am

Tennisfan – A difference exists between 2 players disliking one another and every player on Tour detesting 1 particular player.

BTW – Roddick and Novak have made up pretty well. Not friends, but closer to being friends than Novak-Roger, IMO.

Also – Once upon a time, the Williams Sistas were pretty disliked on the woman’s Tour for being aloof, loud, arrogant. Match fixing, pulling out of events in 1st round after appearance money was collected – were other layer’s complaints. And a little bit for their “poor gals up from poverty and racism” schtick that was more their followers than Venus or Serena . The Williams dripped with wealthy American sponsor money from when the two girls were preteens. By the time Venus went pro the whole Williams Entourage was all expenses covered. Which is better than what almost all other WTA players got in development.

But the 2 Sistas changed with time. Something Sharapova has never done, except perhaps to get even louder and ore conceited over time. Venus’s aloofness was learned to mostly come from shyness. And after Serena nearly died from an embolism and tok stock of her life – she was unhappy with how few people visited, called or wrote – so she became a lot more friendly and sociable. The 2 Williams gals adapted. Venus is now fairly well liked by players and Serena has worked hard in the last 5 years to abate her bellowing and act with a lot more grace than she once did, and make friends in the tennis community and act like a champion.. So credit to both of them. Both are pretty bright and have built great success on and off court.

April 7th, 2016 at 3:08 pm

Just over heart Christiane Ayotte in interview. She said that over 100-150 athletes get caught not only they didn’t think that Meldronium matter, but also the 1/2 life of the medication is so long. So the drug may come up positive even that the athletes stop it longtime before January 2016…

She give Masha absolution…

April 7th, 2016 at 3:30 pm

When Serena was in hospital, Wozniaki visited her with cards, flowers, and boxes of chocolates, and the two spend alot of time together away from tour, they seem to always hug each other after matches, Serena and Vika seem quite friendly too ….

April 7th, 2016 at 3:31 pm

Well, I was educated to say “Good morning”, “Good night”, “Thank You”, you’re welcome…. and so on to every person I have to interact with either they are providing services or just sharing an elevator.

A minimum politeness doens’t harm a single soul, regardless of your field of activity, country or age. My two cents.

The way you behave shows, you just can’t pretend to be polite, as you have to apply it everyday of your life, several times a day.
Is just part of who she is, regarding her “work’ she is not polite to others and due to the nature of it (competitive) doesn’t change much other than her reputation with her peers, they are entitles to think she is uneducated the way she behave to them. As long as she is not a bit$%^che outside (which I think she isn’t), than I don’t have a problem either.

April 7th, 2016 at 7:51 pm

Daniel,

We have a player who says Masha doesn’t talk to her in the locker room, but yet on the video that I posted, from few years ago she calls Masha friend and chats with her like thry are best friends, how much credibility has her statment from few days ago, when we know they were talking and were frirnds before, not much credibility really. I won’t waste any time for another one, Kristina Mladenovic, her words have even less credibility, she is jealous tennis nobody who tries to get into spotlight by hitting somebody who is on the ground, that will not bring he much simphaty in the locker room.
Now can you name more players that said what these two said?

April 7th, 2016 at 8:09 pm

^^ not just to name them, but more importantly, to quote them.

April 7th, 2016 at 8:10 pm

WB,

Maria herself said she is not in the tour to make friends. It’s a trade of her personality towards her peers, so would you really be surprised if she doesn’t say “Hi”, “sorry”, or any other usual start talking words regular people use?!

I think she must be exactly like that in locker rooms and tourneys. Talk to pass, sign few fans balls (tennis ones:-) and out.

I am not like that so I don’t relate to it and think it’s bad manners. But if it makes her more competitive and drive her best, the better for her.Maybe she just don’t want to be friends because it would make it harder for her to beat them.

April 7th, 2016 at 8:47 pm

Talk to press…

April 7th, 2016 at 8:48 pm

“Maria herself said she is not in the tour to make friends. It’s a trade of her personality towards her peers…”

I tend to believe that it is carefully crafted image by her team, PR management, sponsors in order to be more successful on and off (to generate as much money as possible for sponsors and herselef) the court. We don’t really know their (Maria, Serena, Roger, Rafa…) personalities in private nor we can claim with any certainty that we know their personalities at all.

April 7th, 2016 at 10:53 pm

Agree with you last sentence above, but we sure do have out own idea about each of them. On how they behave on court, of court, who we think is shy, arrogant and etc…

April 8th, 2016 at 12:05 pm

By saying I didn’t feel as bad for Maria after I saw her photos in Cabo San Lucas, this is what I meant — it wasn’t a jab…

“The message she seems to want to convey is that she is in good spirits and has definitely not given up on coming back to the sport.”

The rest of the article – interesting:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/tennis/news/article.cfm?c_id=94&objectid=11615823

April 8th, 2016 at 12:33 pm

More quotes from Maria about her perspective on friends in WTA. And so on…opinions of other WTA players:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11614009

April 8th, 2016 at 12:37 pm

Quotes and statements from well before March 7 incident:

http://www.10sballs.com/2013/06/25/getting-harder-and-harder-to-make-friendships-on-wta-tour/

There’s about 20 million articles when you google ‘Maria Sharapova no friends in WTA’…much of it is sensational garbage of course. But imo, the truth is in her own words. I may not be a fan of her tennis but I can’t fault her for not wanting to make friends in the WTA. As I said, can’t blame those peers who think she’s stuck-up or have resentment/jealousy against her either.

April 8th, 2016 at 12:45 pm