Maria Sharapova needs no introduction at all. She is a tennis-star and will always be. Now that she is 32 years old, she is bidding goodbye to her favourite sport i.e. Tennis after winning 5-times Grand Slam titles. Now you must be thinking about the reason behind doing so. Yes, there is a reason, Maria has been dealing with shoulder problems for years. She has played only two matches this season and lost both.

She told about her decision in an essay written for Vanity Fair and Vogue

via: Kamran Jebreili/ KALW

In an essay written for Vanity Fair and Vogue about her decision to walk away from the sport, posted online Wednesday, Sharapova asks: “How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known?”

Maria Sharapova burst onto the tennis scene at 17 when she has won Wimbledon in 2004 and would go on to complete a career Grand Slam with two titles at the French Open and one each at the U.S. Open and Australian Open. The Russian moved to Florida when she was a child, she has served a 15-month ban after failing a doping test in 2016. After the suspension, she managed to reach an only major quarterfinal.

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She finally decided to give up with Tennis after having lost 4 consecutive matches at Grand Slam tournaments

via: Twitter

After getting huge success on the Tennis court and off so much time in the spotlight, Sharapova has finally decided to walk off from Tennis after having lost 4 consecutive matches at Grand Slam tournaments.

Her latest Tennis match happened last month only where she was beaten by 6-3, 6-4 by Donna Vekic. That has sent her ranking tumbling outside of the top 350. Now, she ranks on 373 numbers this week and since then she has not played even a single match.

After getting consecutive defeats in her matches, she was repeatedly asked whether it was her last appearance at Melbourne Park where she won the trophy in 2008, she said: “I don’t know”. But her shoulder injuries are becoming more of a problem now for which she has to say goodbye to Tennis.

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She played a total of 15 matches last season, going 8-7

via: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

“I put in all the right work. There is no guarantee that evens when you do all of those things, that you’re guaranteed victory in a first-round or the third round or the final. That’s the name of this game,” Sharapova said after what turned out to be her final match. “That’s why it’s so special to be a champion, even for one time.”

Have a look at what Maria Sharapova has to say about her retirement missive

Tennis showed me the world—and it showed me what I was made of. It’s how I tested myself and how I measured my growth. And so in whatever I might choose for my next chapter, my next mountain, I’ll still be pushing. I’ll still be climbing. I’ll still be growing. pic.twitter.com/kkOiJmXuln

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) February 26, 2020

“In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life”. – Maria Sharapova

“I’ll miss it every day. I’ll miss the training and my daily routine: Waking up at dawn, lacing my left shoe before my right, and closing the court’s gate before I hit my first ball of the day. – Maria Sharapova

“I’ll miss my team, my coaches. I’ll miss the moments sitting with my father on the practice court bench. The handshakes – win or lose – and the athletes, whether they knew it or not, who pushed me to be my best. – Maria Sharapova

“Looking back now, I realize that tennis has been my mountain. My path has been filled with valleys and detours, but the views from its peak were incredible.” – Maria Sharapova

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When only 64 new players are drafted in the NBA every year, you need to work hard to make basketball your career. It’s certainly not easy, but you can make it more likely. It can be a challenge to make it to the big leagues, and there are always going to be more people that don’t quite make it than those that do. If you’d like to improve your chances of becoming a player in the NBA, then you’re going to need a plan. You need to know what to expect from your basketball career and take the right steps that bring you closer and closer to your ambitions.

Here’s what you need to know about how to improve your chances of stepping onto the courts at the biggest games in the world.

1. Start Young

The earlier that you decide to pursue a basketball career, the better. If you (or your children) are interested in basketball as a viable future career, then you should start by attending as many basketball camps as possible. The younger you start, the more practice you’ll get, and that’s going to be a major theme of your basketballing life. Look at options like the Five Star Basketball Camp for a taster of what your basketball career is going to entail

2. Know the Game

The more that you know the game, the better you’ll play. Of course, physical fitness is vital, but coaches are also going to want to see that you have a strategic knowledge of the game as well. Just as you are going to have to continuously work on your playing skills and your fitness levels, never stop learning about how best to play the game.

Also read: 6 Tips To Improve Shooting Accuracy In Basketball

3. High School Games

It’s in high school that you need to shine. If you are on the basketball team, then you’ll stand a much better chance of taking it to the next level because that’s where the college scouts are going to be looking. You’re going to need to stand out at those matches too, but that means being a team player as much as it means being good at taking shots. Remember, coaches and scouts, want to know that you are teachable and aren’t going to be a disruption in the dressing room or on the court.

4. Get a Basketball Scholarship

Ideally, you want to be spotted by a scout as you play, but that doesn’t always happen. If your games don’t attract scouts, then you need to get proactive. Talk to your coach about their thoughts on your skills, and start looking at scholarship options. The best thing about basketball scholarships is that they not only make it easier to afford college, but they also allow you to play at a higher level. That’s where the pros will always head, so make sure that college is something that you prioritize (that’s going to mean working on your grades).

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5. Get Fitter

You can never be too fit if you’re planning to be a professional athlete. Although less skilled players can outperform more talented team members just through stamina alone, it’s better to focus on building both skills and fitness levels. Vary your workouts so that you get a better all-round level of fitness, and remember to work on your jumps.

If you’ve decided that you want to become a pro basketball player, then you’ve got your work cut out for you. With high levels of competition and only a slim opportunity for success, you have to make the most of your ambitions. Follow the advice of pros, never stop learning, and you might be holding the Larry O’Brien trophy before you know it.

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The National Football League is one of the best-known football competitions in the US. Although you may want to follow the NFL to support your favorite teams and players, the NFL is also a weekly event that you can enjoy, no matter who you support. This is because the league offers some of the most impressive players and exciting events, such as the Super Bowl, that football fans could wish for. If you want to start following NFL events,

Here is a guide on the best ways to track match results from wherever you are.

1. Attend Matches

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The most direct way to follow the NFL is to book tickets to a match, allowing you to see the defining goals and penalties of the season happen right in front of your eyes. Not only will you be able to find out match results as soon as they happen, but NFL games are an experience like no other, where you can join in with the game’s festivities and meet other American football fans.

What’s more, NFL games are played all over the US, meaning that you can easily attend a match near you. From the Miami Dolphins to the Seattle Seahawks, Ticket Sales offer a wide range of NFL league tickets that can allow you to experience the excitement of watching history being made. And going to a stadium to watch a live match gives you a buzz that really is like nothing else.

2. Download the Official App

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If you do not have time to watch or attend games on a regular basis, then you should download the official NFL app. This app allows you to watch the latest regional games and highlights from any location that has access to Wi-Fi. Not only this, but the NFL app provides you with live results on match days, as well as breaking news about the league and the wider football world. You can also download the NFL Game Pass if you want access to all NFL matches lives, including the Super Bowl.

3. Stream Games

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Watching NFL games on your TV can be a great way to enjoy a match and simultaneously bond with your family. Not only will you be able to watch every score as it happens and ensure that you always get the best view of the action, but watching the NFL can be a fun event on your social calendar.

However, if you are not able to watch the NFL on television or do not have a cable subscription, you can stream games live through a number of different streaming services, including Youtube Live, Hulu, and Disney Plus.

4. Visit Sports Websites

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If you want to read a commentary or hear the latest opinions about NFL games, you should access high-quality sports websites that focus on NFL matches. Not only will sports websites ensure that you stay up-to-date with the latest results and hear about the latest football news, but they also allow you to gain a deeper understanding of gameplay through the viewpoints of football experts.