Sharapova strikes deal over irksome photo shoot

By Paul Virgo

ROME (Reuters) - World number two Maria Sharapova said on Monday that she had struck a deal with the WTA over a publicity photo shoot she had claimed she was being forced into on the eve of the Italian Open.

"The timing of the shoot got reduced to about 90 minutes and I did that yesterday," Russia's Australian Open champion told a news conference on the first day of the Rome tournament.

"The compromise was still pretty difficult since it's before a very big event. (But) the time reduction definitely makes it a lot easier than going into a four or five-hour shoot, without (the time for) hair and make-up, which adds another hour."

Triple grand slam winner Sharapova had vented her anger about the shoot on her Web site (www.mariasharapova.com) earlier this month.

She added that she would like the women's game's ruling body to pay more attention to players' needs.

"I've obviously made my point. I didn't feel people were listening to me. I think it's in our best interest to listen to all players," she said.

"Over the last few years all the players have been to numerous mandatory meetings and sometimes you go back feeling you are talking about the same things and having the same issues and your voice is never being heard."

Sharapova also heaped praise on the British tennis public, saying their warmth is one of the reasons Wimbledon is the tournament she would most like to win again.