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Sporting Life
Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and the surprising shine of respect
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Rivals Serena Williams (left) and Maria Sharapova share a laugh during a ceremony to induct Sharapova into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
PHOTO: REUTERS
A hundred extra sit-ups. Inspirational mantras chanted. No Sundays off for a year. Athletes are constantly in desperate pursuit of a mysterious thing. They call it “the edge”, or anything which offers them a competitive advantage.
The edge can be physical but also psychological. It can be found in unbending body language and a mask of unblinking toughness. To be nice is to soften that edge. Better to send an icy look across the net.
