Dimitrov's 'private' affair with Sharapova
Source: AFP |
January 15, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
GRIGOR Dimitrov has criticized interest in his relationship with Maria Sharapova as an invasion of privacy and said the topic should be off-limits.
The 21-year-old Bulgarian nicknamed 'Baby Federer' suffered a vastly different fate to the Russian starlet on the opening day of the Australian Open.
While the second-seeded Sharapova recorded a 6-0, 6-0 defeat of Olga Puchkova, Dimitrov flopped 4-6, 2-6, 4-6 to veteran Frenchman Julien Benneteau.
Hype followed Dimitrov to his outside court, partly because word had spread that he was Sharapova's new flame, and partly because he has uncanny similarities in technique and flair to 17-time major-winner Roger Federer.
He raced to a 3-0 lead, as Sharapova held the same scoreline. But while the Russian went onwards and upwards, Dimitrov embarked on a steep downhill slide as the 32-seeded Frenchman sailed to victory in one hour and 46 minutes.
"I don't think it's a distraction," Dimitrov said of interest in his personal life. "I just believe I am here to be on the court. I am not here to speak about my private life.
"People love gossip. Who doesn't? But I believe it's a privacy invasion.
"I don't think that's right.
"It's not because we're different, but because it's not right to athletes in general. It should be forbidden to even be asked but it is what it is, right?"
The 21-year-old Bulgarian nicknamed 'Baby Federer' suffered a vastly different fate to the Russian starlet on the opening day of the Australian Open.
While the second-seeded Sharapova recorded a 6-0, 6-0 defeat of Olga Puchkova, Dimitrov flopped 4-6, 2-6, 4-6 to veteran Frenchman Julien Benneteau.
Hype followed Dimitrov to his outside court, partly because word had spread that he was Sharapova's new flame, and partly because he has uncanny similarities in technique and flair to 17-time major-winner Roger Federer.
He raced to a 3-0 lead, as Sharapova held the same scoreline. But while the Russian went onwards and upwards, Dimitrov embarked on a steep downhill slide as the 32-seeded Frenchman sailed to victory in one hour and 46 minutes.
"I don't think it's a distraction," Dimitrov said of interest in his personal life. "I just believe I am here to be on the court. I am not here to speak about my private life.
"People love gossip. Who doesn't? But I believe it's a privacy invasion.
"I don't think that's right.
"It's not because we're different, but because it's not right to athletes in general. It should be forbidden to even be asked but it is what it is, right?"
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