M. Sharapova - 22.01.2013

M. SHARAPOVA/E. Makarova
6-2 6-2

Q.  Dropped nine games all the way to the semis.  Are you pleased about this?  How did you feel about today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Yes, I am.  I thought today was going to be a really good test.  She's beaten quality players over the course of last week, and I know that she's capable of playing really good, you know, with deep hitting.  Also a lefty, which is a bit tricky.
So, yeah, I thought I handled that pretty good and was able to keep my focus all the way through the match.

Q.  I guess the next match, you know her very well.  She's been playing great; she's a veteran player.  Last time you played her, was it Rome?
MARIA SHARAPOVA:  No, we played in Beijing, in the semis.
Yeah, I mean, I've beaten her the last few times that we've played, but they've always been really good matches, really tough matches.  I certainly expect it in the next one.
She's had a great start to the year and playing really well.  She was, you know, the most improved player towards the end of last year as well, so that will be hopefully a high quality semi.

Q.  Does it worry you at all you haven't had a big test yet going into the semis?
MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Well, going into the match, my goal is not really to be tested (laughter).  I don't know how else to put it.  If I do come into a situation where I feel like I have to pull through or I'm not playing my best tennis or she's up and I have to find a way to win, then that's what you have on that given day.
Do I want to be in that position?  Absolutely not.
You know, like I said, if I start the match well, I want to follow through with that along the whole way and keep that motivation and the way that I'm playing, doing the right things and keeping that focus.  That's the important thing.
It's not to think, Oh, well, should I just give away a few games.  It's not really a mentality of a winner, I think.

Q.  According to Forbes, Li Na is the second most paid female athlete in the world.
MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Since when do we pay attention to Forbes?

Q.  Do you feel like it's an interesting thing to know?
MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Do you?

Q.  You are the most paid.
MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Do you think that they have my pass code to my bank account?

Q.  I don't know.
MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Well, think about it (smiling).