Keep tennis clean: Sharapova

Dubai: Former world No 1 Maria Sharapova pleaded to keep tennis clean from drug abuse and match-fixing.

"All of us make mistakes, but each of us need to work hard enough to keep the sport clean of all these unwanted things," Sharapova said.

The 20-year-old Russian, who launched the Dh2.4 billion Dubai Lifestyle City yesterday, added: "The WTA Tour is very competitive and all of us work very hard to be where we are.

Former world No 1 Martina Hingis recently announced her retirement from professional tennis and admitted she had tested positive for cocaine during this year's Wimbledon.

The "Swiss Miss", however, insisted she was not guilty of the charge.

On the ATP Tour, Russian Nikolay Davydenko is facing a match-fixing enquiry after he pulled out of a second-round match against Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello due to injury in the Poland Open in August this year.

"We have to look at ways to make tennis better," she added.

The two-time Grand Slam champion was amused when she was asked about her plans to retire from the game.

"I feel I am young at heart. I take these things on a day to day basis and see how I feel when I wake up each morning," she said.

Love to compete

"At this moment I will probably want to go on for another five or six years with tennis, after which I will start doing other things in life," Sharapova said. "I love the game and I love to compete."

Sharapova, who played at the annual Dubai Tennis Championships in 2006, holds the Emirate close to her heart. "When I retire this will be the place to come and enjoy with my family. Dubai is such an incredible place. I have launched such an ambitious project like the Dubai Lifestyle City. I hope I can be part of it when it is ready in two years' time," she smiled.

Sharapova admits she plans to buy a place in Dubai in the near future. "I will consult my family and see what they have to say about this."

She also promised her participation at next year's Dubai Duty Free Women's Open, to be held at the Dubai Tennis Stadium from February 25.

"A major part of 2007 went with injury for me. But I hope things will be better next year," she said.