Sharapova defends dad

MELBOURNE – Top seed Maria Sharapova was again forced to defend her father’s antics at the Australian Open yesterday when the umpire warned him to stop coaching her from the sidelines.

Sharapova, who has just regained the world number one ranking, has repeatedly defended father Yuri Sharapov’s demonstrative and vocal style as he watches his glamorous daughter play. Portuguese umpire Mariana Alves slapped Sharapova with a code violation during her quarter-final against fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze Wednesday, accusing her father of coaching through hand signals from the players’ box.The practice is officially banned but Sharapova’s opponents have argued Yuri has indulged in for years, a claim the Russian’s camp has always vehemently denied.The 19-year-old, who will meet Kim Clijsters in the semi-finals today, said she had not been paying any attention to her father when the alleged offence occurred because she was so intent on the match against Chakvetadze.”I didn’t see anything, I didn’t even look at him,” she said.Sharapov and her opponent’s father-coach Djambuli Chakvetadze were both animated as they urged on their daughters during the quarter-final and Sharapova said there was nothing unusual about their behaviour.Officials at the Australian Open may be keeping a close eye on Sharapov this year after he was accused of yelling out to distract Justine Henin-Hardenne during his daughter’s losing semi-final appearance here last year.Earlier in that tournament, Anastasia Myskina said she was angry at Sharapov’s interference in her match with Sharapova and was not prepared to play for Russia in the Fed Cup if he was present at team practices and matches.Nampa-AFPPortuguese umpire Mariana Alves slapped Sharapova with a code violation during her quarter-final against fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze Wednesday, accusing her father of coaching through hand signals from the players’ box.The practice is officially banned but Sharapova’s opponents have argued Yuri has indulged in for years, a claim the Russian’s camp has always vehemently denied.The 19-year-old, who will meet Kim Clijsters in the semi-finals today, said she had not been paying any attention to her father when the alleged offence occurred because she was so intent on the match against Chakvetadze.”I didn’t see anything, I didn’t even look at him,” she said.Sharapov and her opponent’s father-coach Djambuli Chakvetadze were both animated as they urged on their daughters during the quarter-final and Sharapova said there was nothing unusual about their behaviour.Officials at the Australian Open may be keeping a close eye on Sharapov this year after he was accused of yelling out to distract Justine Henin-Hardenne during his daughter’s losing semi-final appearance here last year.Earlier in that tournament, Anastasia Myskina said she was angry at Sharapov’s interference in her match with Sharapova and was not prepared to play for Russia in the Fed Cup if he was present at team practices and matches.Nampa-AFP