- U teniskim krugovima sve se brzo sazna, pa tako i da dosta igračica, kako bi sebi osigurale lakši put prema uspjehu, spavaju sa direktorima nekih turnira ili se prave da su njihove devojke, da bi im oni osigurali pozivnicu ili dali besplatan smještaj, što je gnusno. Meni, srećom, takve ponude nisu stigle - kazala je trenutno 629. teniserka svijeta.

Mariana ne igra za Fed Kup reprezentaciju Hrvatske zbog problema unutar njene organizacije.

- I dalje su dvije ponude na stolu, ali još ništa nije sigurno. Bila sam u Neemačkoj sedam godina, mogla sam uzeti državljanstvo, ali nisam htjela budući da mi je bio san igrati za Hrvatsku. Sad mi je žao jer ima dosta djevojaka koje su prešle pod njemačku zastavu i imaju pokrivene troškove - rekla je Dražić.

 

 

 

 

 

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#repost @behindtheracquet ・・・ “I started to play tennis when I was 8 years old in my hometown of Brela, a small city in the Croatian coast. It only took about half a year before I was winning national tournaments. I remember in 2011 when I qualified and got to the semifinals of my first futures tournament and I was invited to play junior Fed Cup. In the summer of that year was when my biggest support passed away, my grandfather. I was absolutely devastated and was truly tough to get through this time. My grandfather was the person to take me to my first ever tennis lesson. While I played in Croatia he was the one taking me many tournaments. I remember being completely shocked when I picked up the phone during a practice and got the news thats he had passed away. I was mentally out of it for so long and for six months I didn’t play a single tournament. As much as I can I try to make him as proud as possible since that day. I always said that I will get to Wimbledon for him, because that is what we used to talk about. It hasn’t been easy to get where I wanted. Two years ago my appendix broke that led to other complications. Doctors found out about the situation too late and fluid was already in my pelvic bone. My blood became infected and I had to stay in the hospital for two weeks longer than they expected. Throughout the time I had high temperature and a rapid heartbeat. My muscles were extremely atrophied and it took a long period of time to get back to normal. I didn’t have much help while trying to move up the rankings when I was finally healthy. I didn’t have much support from the federation, while others were being taken care of. It is not easy making your way through without help or sponsors to back you up. I struggled to practice and develop my game, as I couldn’t afford the necessary coaches. I also didn’t have any indoor courts to use. For some when it rains or the weather is bad it means just going inside, but for me it meant no practice. I am lucky to have my father who was a professional football player, and member of the first every Croation National Team, be there to push me through...” @marianadrazic Read full story at behindtheracquet.com

A post shared by Mariana Dražić (@marianadrazic) on Dec 26, 2019 at 3:00am PST