NOTEBOOK: Sharapova set for nostalgic visit to Chernobyl

Jun 30, 2010, 11:29 GMT

London - Maria Sharapova is getting in back touch with her heritage following an exit from Wimbledon, with the three-time Grand Slam champion set for her first visit to Chernobyl this week.

After an absence of a decade, the Russian will visit an area near the Chernobyl nuclear plant, scene of the worst nuclear accident in history in April 1986.

Sharapova's parents lived in Gomel (now Belarus) and the region was affected by the accident, which prompted them to pack up and move north to Siberia, where Maria was born 12 months after the accident.

Now LA-based Sharapova wants to make a return in the form of a goodwill visit.

'Both of my parents are actually from Belarus. If it was not for Chernobyl, I probably would be born in Belarus,' said the totally Americanised 2004 Wimbledon winner.

'My goal is really to restore that and to send the message that we're all very aware of the situation, what has happened many years ago, and that people on a daily basis are still affected by it, are getting sick, and are living in those regions.'

The visit had been set but a shoulder injury interrupted the plans.

'I'm very excited about the trip. I was meant to go a couple years ago, and unfortunately I had to fly back to the States to work on my shoulder.'

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NOTEBOOK: Henin hoping her elbow injury will heal quickly =

London (dpa) - Seven-time Grand Slam winner Justine Henin must wait and see how an elbow injury clears up before planning her summer hardcourt schedule in the wake of a Wimbledon fourth-round exit.

The Belgian fell on her elbow as she went for a shot in a loss to compatriot Kim Clijsters on the somewhat forgivving - but still hard - grass.

'It's still very early just to say what happened, I thought it was really the tendon,' said the one-time number one. 'I hope it's nothing serious, but it's quite painful now.

The player who has been beset by injuries throughout her career said that remaining mentally strong is key in her situation.

'Mentally it's not easy to deal with when I fall down on the court and the few games after,' she said. 'But conditions were warm, and I could play.'