Maria Sharapova on critics: My mom has taught me to be graceful

Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has faced a lot of criticism over her 15-month doping ban but the former World No. 1 says that instead of getting angry at critics, she prefers to treat them with grace

Maria Sharapova

Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has faced a lot of criticism over her 15-month doping ban but the former World No. 1 says that instead of getting angry at critics, she prefers to treat them with grace.

Sharapova wrote an open letter on the Players' Tribune website yesterday, and critics got a special mention.

"I'm aware of what many of my peers have said about me, and how critical some have been in the press. I don't think that's possible to ignore. I've never wanted to respond to the people trashing me by trashing them back.

"I've always wanted to respond by showing grace — something I learned from my mom, one of the most graceful and elegant I've always wanted to face my critics by simply taking the high road," wrote Sharapova.

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