However, the rapid ascent in a fiercely competitive world began nine years before with a level of sacrifice few children would be prepared to endure; Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. That trip to Florida with her father Yuri launched her on the path to success and stardom. But it also required a heart-wrenching two-year separation from her mother Yelena. The latter was compelled to stay back in Siberia because of visa restrictions. The nine-year-old girl had already learnt an important lesson in life – that tennis excellence would only come at a price.
“I used to be so lonely,” Maria Sharapova recalls. “I missed my mother terribly. My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis-training going. So, he couldn’t see me either.
1. Before Maria entered into her tenth year she went to Florida from ……………… .
A. America
B. Russia
C. Netherlands
D.West Indies
2. What was one of the sacrifices that Maria made for her career ?
A. She sacrificed her childhood.
B. She was separated from her mother Yelena for two years.
C. She could not make good friends.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
3. She had to stay back in Siberia for two long years as ……………….
A. She could not get visa.
B. She had to take care of her ill mother.
C. No tennis association invited her to play.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘C’
4. Maria’s father could not see her so often as …………..
A. he had to stay back in Siberia.
B. he had to spend most of his time taking care of her mother.
C. he had to keep working to keep her tennis-training going.
D. Maria kept too busy with her training.
