I'm not the next Kournikova-I want to win matches!
Maria SharapovaRead
People always ask about young people like me being forced into things. I play tennis because I love it. I think Russians might be tougher than other people. When I arrived in America I was young, but I already knew what I wanted. I think that when you start from nothing, when you come from nothing, it makes you hungry. I am proud of where I came from and I know what I want. I want to win.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the determination and passion of an athlete shaped by their difficult upbringing.
Maria Sharapova emphasizes that her love for tennis and her challenging background fueled her ambition and hunger for success. She believes that coming from humble beginnings instills a strong desire to achieve one's goals, and she takes pride in her origins while firmly knowing her aspirations in life.
In practice
When speaking to young athletes looking for inspiration, this quote illustrates the power of passion and perseverance.
I'm not the next Kournikova-I want to win matches!
There's no way to convince people of your greatness. Whatever it is that you want to be, you have to know it inside and knife-fight your way to your dream.
Human beings are the only creatures who are allowed to fail. If an ant fails, it's dead. But we're allowed to learn from our mistakes and from our failures. And that's how I learn, by falling flat on my face and picking myself up and starting all over again.
Don’t let people interfere with you. Boot ’em out, turn off the phone, hide away, get it done. If you carry a short story over to the next day you may overnight intellectualize something about it and try to make it too fancy, try to please someone.
I had a boyfriend who told me I'd never succeed, never be nominated for a Grammy, never have a hit song, and that he hoped I'd fail. I said to him, 'Someday, when we're not together, you won't be able to order a cup of coffee at the f***** deli without hearing or seeing me.'
Before comparing yourself with others, win the battle with yourself. Strive to be better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
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