Russian tennis ace Maria Sharapova has reportedly rebuffed a request from a waiter for her 'selfie' at a Melbourne cafe, ahead of next week's Australian Open.
The brush-off suggests Sharapova is in no mood for frivolity as she embarks on the season's first Grand Slam, following a four-month lay-off with a shoulder injury.
According to Sport24, Sharapova admitted she was taken aback when her bill at the cafe arrived together with the waiter's smartphone and a request for a photo, along with an autograph, following which the world number three took a picture of a man sitting nearby.
The four-time Grand Slam winner, who has long struggled with her right shoulder and had surgery in 2008, said that she is delighted to be in Australia after missing last year's US Open, although she added that she needs to lower her expectations a little and be somewhat realistic about the first few matches.
