Fearless On Court, These Pros Are Different Off Court

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 15th May 2013

Fearless On Court, These Pros Are Different Off Court

epa03701573 Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova returns the ball to Spain's Garbine Muguruza during their second round match of the Italian Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 15 May 2013. EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MEO |

Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are known for being fearless warriors on the court – but even the tennis Amazons confess that they have their secret fears hidden closely under wraps.

“I don’t like the dentist too much, which is probably not really great considering I have a candy line,” said Sharapova, who possess a million-dollar smile surely the result of care from dentists throughout her 26 years.

But there is also something a bit more creepy, crawly which keeps the LA-based Russian up at night: “I don’t like insects either, like bugs that don’t look very pretty or have legs that don’t necessarily need to be there on their bodies… things like that.”

It’s much the same for Azarenka, a noted tennis shrieker like her rival. “I don’t like dark, and I don’t like snakes, any of those creatures. Heights, yeah. So, I’m a regular person. I have some fears.

“But the worst? Probably spiders and snakes. One time I saw a spider on my wall and I just started to freak out.”