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    Watch Maria Sharapova show off boxing skills as tennis star works out with trainer Tommy Cassano on LA beach

    TENNIS legend Maria Sharapova has shown off her boxing skills which included a Los Angeles beach workout with trainer Tommy Cassano.
    The 33-year-old, who retired in February, took up boxing training while she was served a doping ban which began in 2016.

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    Maria Sharapova has shown off her boxing skills

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    Sharapova working out on a Los Angeles beach workout with trainer Tommy Cassano

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    The Russian took up boxing training while she was served a doping ban which began in 2016
    And she posted a series of pad work clips to reveal her progression.
    Sharapova captioned the post: “My first ever reel. Definitely not the last, as I need way more practice.”
    After the Russian returned to tennis in 2017, following a 15 month suspension, she revealed boxing helped keep her busy.
    Sharapova said: “I tried boxing as I needed to keep myself in good form.

    “It was great as I could imagine some particular people whom I wanted to hit.”
    The former World No1 is not the only athlete to take up an interest in boxing.
    Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema revealed he could even take up a career in the ring after his retirement from football.
    Benzema made his revelation in a YouTube chat with his kickboxer pal Fouad Ezbiri.

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    He said: “I get a thrill out of combat sports, and I love to train.
    “Once my football career is over, why don’t I train with you for six months?
    “Then, if you think I am ready for a fight, there’s no problem as far as I’m concerned. I swear to God, I’m up for it.”

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    Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema revealed he could even take up a career in the ring after his retirement from footballCredit: @karimbenzema More

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    From Cristiano Ronaldo’s five naps a day to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s four-hour snooze.. how much sports stars sleep

    BEING one of the most well known sporting icons on the planet is tiring work.
    But rather than sleep all night, Cristiano Ronaldo instead takes FIVE naps a day while Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson snoozes for just four hours to keep himself going.

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    Cristiano Ronaldo takes FIVE naps-a-day
    Earlier this month, it emerged Juventus superstar Ronaldo, 35, grabs 40 winks five times each day and sleeps in the foetal position.
    And here SunSport can reveal the different sleep patterns of several other sporting icons from across the globe and how many hours of ‘Zzz’ time they get, according to Online Mattress Review.
    Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – 4 hours

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    The Rock survives on just four hours sleep every nightCredit: Getty – Contributor

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    The WWE icon turned movie star hits the sack for just four hours-a-night.
    At 48, Hawaiian born Johnson clocks off between midnight and is up and about again at 4am.

    Presumably to work out at least 25 times a day to maintain his impressive physique.
    Muhammad Ali – 6.5 hours

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    Muhammad Ali was a religious man and slept for 6.5 hours after dinner and prayers

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    The greatest boxer of all time put many opponents to sleep in his time and would wind down between 10pm and 4:30am.
    As a devout Muslim, much of his time would be split between prayer and training.
    And his evening routine would include a walk after dinner, a quick wash, prayers and short stint in front of the TV before he dozed off.

    Serena Williams – 7 hours

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    Serena Williams clocks up a solid seven hours of sleep after socialising and work
    You do not need hawk eye to tell when Serena is out for the count but we can neither confirm or deny whether her snoring makes a racket.
    The tennis sensation takes a solid seven hour sleep between midnight and 7am each day after a post-dinner routine of socialising and work.
    The 38-year-old former world number one is also a mum of a young daughter so her slumbers are no doubt interrupted by the littl’un every now and then.
    Cristiano Ronaldo – 7.5 hours

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    Ronaldo sleeps in the fetal position to stay in top shape aged 35

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    Ronaldo has perhaps the oddest routine of all the big stars.
    Rather than one lump of rest at the end of each day like most of us, Ronnie reportedly prefers to take short naps of an hour-and-a-half each time throughout the day.
    After dinner, he relaxes with his friends before a swim at 10pm.
    He then takes one of his signature naps until midnight and relaxes until another short burst of sleep from around 3am before waking up for the day.
    Ronda Rousey – 8 hours

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    MMA star Rousey does not mess around when it comes to getting the right amount of rest

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    MMA and WWE star Rousey’s routine seems pretty standard.
    Eight hours between midnight and 8am.
    Nice and simple.
    Tiger Woods – 8.5 hours

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    Tiger Woods – perhaps the greatest golfer in history – spends more than a third of his day asleep

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    Woods is generally considered the best golfer of all time.
    And to maintain such high levels, the superstar spends eight and a half hours dreaming of sinking putts and splitting fairways.
    He snoozes from 10pm to 6:30am – proving the early birdie really does catch the worm.
    Tom Brady – 9 hours

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    Tom Brady is widely considered the best quarter-back ever to play American Football and he does not compromise when it comes to rest

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    Like Woods, Brady is considered the greatest ever in his field.
    The former New England Patriots quarter-back is revered in across the world for his sustained and unrivalled talent.
    And the 42-year-old – who is still playing for the Tampa Bay Bucacaneers – makes sure he touches down to sleep for nine hours each day between 8:30pm and 5:30am.

    Stephen Curry – 9 hours

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    NBA star Stephen Curry is one of the longest sleepers on the list with a solid nine hours

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    Basketball star Stephen Curry is another record breaker who is set to go down in the NBA history books.
    The Golden State Warriors point guard is another who does not take rest lightly – opting to hit the hay for nine hours between 11pm and 8am every day.

    Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s luxury yacht as it flies through the water More

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    Novak Djokovic defended by Nemanja Matic as Man Utd star blasts ‘mice’ who criticise fellow Serb for ‘no reason’

    NAMANJA MATIC wrote an open letter to defend Novak Djokovic following criticism the tennis World No1 received for hosting a tournament amid the coronavirus pandemic. Djokovic came under scrutiny for ignoring strict social-distancing rules and even dancing topless in a nightclub as he took part and helped put together the Adria Tour. Nemanja Matic wrote […] More