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Following her win over Xinyu Wang at the Shenzhen Open on Wednesday, Maria Sharapova was asked if she planned to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. In order to be eligible, the Russian player needs to play three Fed Cup ties.
Sharapova last played Fed Cup in early 2016. The former world no. 1 said: 'I'm not sure right now. I don't know, because I don’t really want to think about next year. Last year I didn't play a full season. And you know that I would have to play another three weeks in order to maybe compete in events that I don't know if I will even be able to.
I just want to take it one step at a time. This year I want to compete at the big tournaments in which for me is the Grand Slam. I want to be healthy during those events and that's the focus. And it is hard for me to look at 2020.' On Xinyu Wang, who she defeated earlier this week, Sharapova added: 'I think she's doing all the right things at the moment and with the way that she played.
It was very impressive. I think for everyone, not just myself, but you have to be able to do that for three hours and for three sets. Obviously at young age, you learn that very quickly when you move on to the level of your professional tour and you have to play the same type of tennis you play on stadium court as if you don't play stadium court, and every day you have to show up and you have to play with that type of brilliance.' ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title