Sharapova did not disrespect me, says batting legend.
Indian cricket God Sachin Tendulkar has defended tennis star Maria Sharapova after she was criticised by a group of his fans for not knowing who he was.
Tendulkar, who scored 15,921 runs in 2000 Test Matches and 18,426 more in 463 ODIs, was a spectator at one of Sharapova’s matches at Wimbledon this summer.
The Little Master watched Sharapova along with former Manchester United and England footballer David Beckham.
After a match, Sharapova was asked: “Sachin Tendulkar was the other person who came in at the same time as David. Do you know who Sachin is?”
She replied: “I don’t.”
Sharapova was accused of showing disrespect towards Tendulkar, but he thinks people should lay off the Russian.
Speaking to NDTV, Tendulkar, 41, said: “Sharapova’s comments were not disrespectful. She doesn’t follow cricket.”
Sharapova, 27, has won five Grand Slam singles titles. She triumphed at Wimbledon in 2004 when she was just 17 years old.
She then won the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008 and the French Open in 2012 and 2014.
Tendulkar retired from all forms of cricket last year.
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