Sharapova has just participated in the Pan Pacific Tennis Open, which is a WTA level one event held in Tokyo, Japan. Sharapova played as the No. 1 seed, but it is a pity that she had to withdraw from the game due to injury in the semi-final against Ivanovic.
This is not the first time Zhang Guan's parents have met Sharapova. Zhang Guan's parents do not have any opinions about this "foreign daughter-in-law". They don't care much about their nationality. It's good that they're happy.
After the Spring Festival, Zhang Guan and Sharapova flew to Hong Kong together again, and they will jointly attend a sponsor's new product launch.
Because the length of the Spring Festival holiday in the two places is different, the Hong Kong Spring Festival holiday is from the first day of the first month to the third day of the first month. Therefore, by the fourth day of the first month, people are already working, all business activities will be carried out normally. However, the three-day holiday in Hong Kong is a serious holiday, so there is no need to adjust it.
Commercial vehicles were driving on the streets of Hong Kong, and there was some traffic jam at this time, and Zhang Guan couldn't help holding Sharapova's hands.
"Maria, I can't celebrate your birthday with you again this year." Zhang Guan continued, "I have promised our tennis center to participate in a tennis campus promotion event, which will last up to a month."
"When is the specific time?" Sharapova asked.
"Mid-March to mid-April." Zhang Guan replied.
"Then you are not going to participate in the Masters?" Sharapova then added, "In the middle of March, there will be the Indian Wells of the Masters Series, and in the middle of March is the Masters of the Masters. The two station games are all ATP 1000 level events, and the prize money is also very high. The total prize money for men's games should exceed 3 million US dollars!"
The annual Tennis Masters Series is an important event for professional players. First of all, these ATP1000 level Tour Masters players get half the points of Grand Slam events, that is 1000 points for the championship, 600 points for runner-up, and the top four 360 points, 180 points in the quarterfinals and so on.
Secondly, the ATP1000-level tournament bonus is also very impressive. Generally, the total prize money of the Masters Series held in Europe is 2.45 million US dollars, while the two events in the United States, due to the relatively strong sponsors, the total prize money exceeds 3 million US dollars. Of course, the highest prize is the Master Cup held in China every November. In 2007, the total bonus reached 3.7 million US dollars.
In terms of the number of participants, there are usually 64 players participating in the Masters in Europe, only half of the Grand Slam; and the two Masters in the United States have 128 places, which is the same as the Grand Slam, so the competition is as intense as Grand Slam.
The high points, high prize money, a large number of participants, and fierce competition have made the two masters in the United States the most important event after the Australian Open and before the French Open. The level of the contestants is also the same as the Grand Slam.
Sharapova then introduced, "In the Masters Indian Wells game, the men's total prize money seems to be 3.17 million US dollars. The title sponsor of this competition is Pacific Life Insurance, so the women's game is also called the Pacific Life Insurance Cup. The women's competition is a 96-level first-tier tour with prize money of $2.1 million."
"The difference between the men's and women's bonuses is more than one million dollars!" Zhang Guan said with a smile.
"That's strange. In the tennis match, the men's prize money was much higher than the women's prize money. It used to be the same as the Grand Slam. Now in the four Grand Slams, in addition to the French Open, the other three men's and women's singles bonuses are already the same. However, on the tour, the women's singles are still much better than the men's singles." Sharapova paused and said, "But the Miami men's and women's bonuses are the same. "
"Is Miami in the Masters? The one behind Indian Wells?" Zhang Guan asked.
"Yes, that's it. The men's singles total prize money is $3.45 million, the highest of any master series. The sponsor of this competition is Sony Ericsson." Sharapova said with a smile, "The women's game is called Sony Ericsson Cup, the total bonus is also 3.45 million US dollars!"
"How many bonuses are there in the first-level women's singles?" Zhang Guan asked.
"1.34 million US dollars. And there is a difference between 64 and 32." Sharapova continued, "Now you know, the gap between the tennis men's and women's bonuses is very large, and in the men's master series, the bonus can exceed 300. The only one million dollars is the two races in the United States. Are you sure you're not going to participate?"
Zhang Guan still shook his head, "3 million is just the total bonus, and it has to be layered down. Even if I win the championship, I am afraid that the bonus will not reach 1 million! Too little, I'm not going!"
"Are you too rich for $1 million?" Sharapova glared at Zhang Guan.
At this moment, Zhang Guan said to the driver, "Master driver, stop a little in front of you, that's where the decoration surrounds."
The driver stopped the car slowly. He looked at the shop that was being renovated. He said that the shop had been renovated for several months from the end of last year to the present. In the month, the owner's loss is likely to be quite large.
Zhang Guan took the lead and got out of the car, then made a "please" gesture.
"What are you doing here?" Sharapova asked.
"Aren't you familiar with this place?" Zhang Guan smiled, "We've been here before!"
Sharapova looked around, as if remembering something, and then she said, "I remember, we were shopping here! I remember that there was a shop decorated very delicately, I still have an impression, it seems like it here?"
Sharapova raised her finger and it was the shop that was blocked by the decoration. The enclosures are written in Chinese and because they say "During the renovation, business suspension" and "For safety, please do not approach".
"What happens? Is it because the business is not good, the shop was changed?" Sharapova looked around, and then said, "The flow of people here is still quite large, and there should be no guests, that is, poor management!"
"Not necessarily, maybe the landlord doesn't want to continue renting." Zhang Guan walked over while pulling Sharapova while smiling.
"Hey, the English above says "For safety, please don't come close", isn't it written in Chinese too?" Sharapova asked.
"This is also the meaning in Chinese. But I think this store should be renovated!" Zhang Guan pulled Sharapova forward and stopped not far from the fence.
At the next moment, the entire enclosure fell, and a renovated shop appeared in front of the two.
A sign with a candy pattern attached to the city, the letter on the door is exactly the English name of Sharapova, Maria-Sharapova!