Sharapova goes to war over WTA photo shoot

Tennis star Maria Sharapova has gone to war over a modelling shoot, using her own website to ask her fans whether she ought to take part in a four-hour photo session next week that she feels could have a detrimental impact on her hopes of winning matches.

London, May 3 : Tennis star Maria Sharapova has gone to war over a modelling shoot, using her own website to ask her fans whether she ought to take part in a four-hour photo session next week that she feels could have a detrimental impact on her hopes of winning matches.

According to The Times, the 21-year-old Russian has strongly criticised moves by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tou to demand that she takes part in a marketing shoot next weekend as soon as she arrives in Rome to prepare for the Italian Open.

Sharapova has openly questioned the motives of her association.

"I want all my fans to know the WTA Tour is forcing me and several of the other top players to do a four-hour commercial shoot. They want me to do this shoot on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of the Rome tournament after flying 12 hours from Los Angeles.

"I never do shoots before tournaments because they are mentally draining and I want to just focus on my tennis. The WTA is telling me that if I don't do this shoot, they will fine me over $300,000 [about pounds150,000].

ANI