Sharapova has just finished the Pan Pacific Open, a Division I WTA tournament held in Tokyo, Japan. Sharapova entered as the No. 1 seed, but unfortunately withdrew from the tournament due to injury in the semi-final against Branislav Ivanovic.

Zhang Guan's parents are not the first time to see Sharapova, Zhang Guan's parents have no opinion on this "foreign daughter-in-law", they don't care much about nationality, and feel that as long as their son likes it, the two of them will live happily in the future.

After the Chinese New Year, Zhang Guan and Sharapova flew to Hong Kong together to attend a sponsor's new product launch.

Since the length of the Spring Festival holiday in the two places is different, the Spring Festival holiday in Hong Kong is from the first day of the first month to the third day of the first month, so the fourth day of the first month is already normal work, and all business activities will be carried out normally. However, these three days of holiday in Hong Kong are serious holidays, and there is no need to take a holiday.

The commercial car was driving on the streets of Hong Kong, and there was a traffic jam at this time, and Zhang Guan involuntarily held Sharapova's hand.

"Martha, I can't accompany you for your birthday this year." Zhang Guan continued: "I have promised our tennis center to participate in a tennis campus promotion activity, which will almost go to most of China, and it will last for up to a month. ”

"When?" Sharapova asked.

"Mid-March to mid-April." Zhang Guan replied.

"Aren't you going to the Masters, then?" Sharapova went on to add: "In mid-March, there will be Indian Wells for the Masters, and in late March, there will be the MielS for the Masters. Both of these tournaments are ATP1000-level tournaments, and the prize money is also very high, and the total prize money for the men's event should be more than $3 million. ”

The annual Tennis Masters Series is an important event for professional players, and first of all, these ATP1000 level Masters tournaments earn half the points of the Grand Slam tournaments. That is, 1000 points for the champion, 600 points for the runner-up, 360 points for the semi-finals, 180 points for the quarterfinals, and so on.

Secondly ATP1000 level of tournament prize money is also very substantial. The Masters Series held in Europe generally has a total prize fund of $2.45 million, while the two tournaments in the United States are more powerful due to sponsors. The total prize money is more than $3 million, and of course the highest prize money is the Masters Cup held in China in November every year, and the total prize money in 2007 reached $3.7 million.

In terms of the number of participants, the Masters held in Europe generally have 64 players, which is only half of the Grand Slam; The two Masters tournaments in the United States have 128 entries, which is the same as the Grand Slam, so the competition is just as fierce as the Grand Slam.

The high points, prize money, large number of participants and fierce competition make the two Masters tournaments in the United States the most important tournament after the Australian Open and before the French Open, and the level of participation is the same as that of the Grand Slam.

Just listen to Sharapova continue: "The Masters Indian Wells tournament. The total prize money for the men's race seems to be 3.17 million US dollars, and the title sponsor of this competition is Pacific Life Insurance, so the women's race is also called the Pacific Life Insurance Cup. In the women's competition, it is a 96-sign Tier 1 tournament with a prize fund of $2.1 million. ”

"The difference between the men's and women's prize money is more than $1 million!" Zhang Guan said with a smile.

"What's strange about that, in tennis, there are more men's prizes than women's, and even the Grand Slams used to be like that. Now in the four Grand Slams, except for the French Open, the other three men's and women's singles bonuses are already the same. But on the tour. The prize money for women's singles is still much better than that for men's singles. Sharapova paused, then said, "But Miami. The bonuses are the same for men and women. ”

"Miami at the Masters? The one behind Indian Wells Station? Zhang Guan asked.

"Yes, that's it. The men's singles prize pool is $3.45 million, the highest of any Masters series. The sponsor of this contest is Sony Ericsson. Sharapova said and laughed: "The women's competition is called the Sony Ericsson Cup, and the total prize money is also 3.45 million US dollars!" ”

"How much money is there in the average women's singles tournament?" Zhang Guan asked.

"$1.34 million. And there is a difference between 64 and 32 lots. Sharapova continued: "Now you know, the difference between men's and women's prize money in tennis is very large, and in the men's Masters series. With a prize fund of more than $3 million, there are only these two races in the United States, are you sure you won't participate? ”

Zhang Guan still shook his head: "3 million is just a total bonus, and it has to be divided layer by layer, even if you win the championship, I'm afraid the bonus will not be less than 1 million!" Too little. Don't go! ”

"$1 million is too little?" Sharapova glared at Zhang Guan.

At this moment, Zhang Guan said to the driver: "Master driver, pull over in front of you, it's the decoration fence there." ”

The driver slowly stopped the car, he looked at the store that was being renovated, and said that from the end of last year to the present, this store has been renovated for several months.

Zhang Guan took the lead and got out of the car, and then made a "please" gesture.

"What are you doing here?" Sharapova asked.

"Doesn't that sound familiar?" Zhang Guan smiled: "We've been here before!" ”

Sharapova looked around, as if remembering something, and then she said: "I remember, we were shopping here at the time!" I remember that there was a shop that was very delicately decorated, and I still have the impression that it seems to be there? ”

Sharapova raised her hand and it was the shop that had been blocked by the renovation fence. The fence is written in Chinese and because it reads "Under renovation, temporarily closed" and "For safety, please do not approach".

"What's the decoration? Could it be that the business is not good, and the shopkeeper has changed careers? Sharapova looked around, and then said: "There is still a lot of people here, and there should not be no customers, that is, it is not well managed!" ”

"Not necessarily, maybe the landlord doesn't want to continue renting." Zhang Guan smiled as he pulled Sharapova over.

"Hey, the English on it says 'For safety, don't approach', isn't that what Chinese says?" Sharapova asked.

Chinese also means the same. But I think this store must have been renovated! Zhang Guan pulled Sharapova forward and stopped not far in front of the fence.

The next moment, the entire fence fell, and a renovated shop appeared in front of the two.

A sign with a candy pattern sticking to the city, and the letters on the door are none other than Maria-Sharapova's English name: Maria-Sharapova! (To be continued.) )

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