Sharapova steamrolls past Wimbledon finalist
By Liz Kobak
Friday, August 29, 2014
WHAT HAPPENED: In an hour and 40 minutes of streaky tennis, No. 5 seed Maria Sharapova powered past 2013 Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki, 6-2, 6-4, on Friday night to advance to the round of 16 at the 2014 US Open.
With most of the points not lasting more than five shots, Sharapova merely got the ball in play at the beginning and was awarded numerous errors from her German opponent. All in all, it was Sharapova’s consistently deep groundstrokes and Lisicki’s difficulty in closing out points that caused tonight’s outcome. However, the straight-set score does not necessarily reflect how the No. 26-seeded German could have pushed the match to three sets.
“It was a tough opponent I had today," said Sharapova, in her post-match interview. "You have no choice but to step it up when it counts."
A nervous-looking Lisicki, 24, struggled from the jump, as evidenced by a series of forehands into the net which put her in a quick 0-3 hole. She'd regain a small measure of momentum, yet on set point, Lisicki, the record holder for the fastest serve in WTA history at 131 mph, double-faulted. In that opening stanza, Lisicki made 18 unforced errors - twice as many as Sharapova.
The tide seemingly turned when Lisicki became steadier and pressured Sharapova into missing shots previously made. After breaking back to 1-1, the 27-year-old Russian emphatically pumped her fist and looked determined to not lose her serve again. Yet Lisicki started running down shots that would’ve been winners against players in earlier rounds, including on break and game point that gave her a 3-1 lead, her biggest one of the match. That deficit motivated Sharapova to bring her level up and continue keeping Lisicki on the defensive. The blonde dressed in black cruised to win the next four games and serve for the match, only to be broken in a tight game. After both women clocked convincing forehand winners - including a massive inside-out forehand for Lisicki on Sharapova’s second match point - it was the Russian's aggressive play that helped her prevail in the end as Lisicki pushed her final return wide.
WHAT IT MEANS: With the win, Sharapova now has a 6-1 record in head-to-head matchups with Lisicki. She advances to the round of 16, where she will meet No. 10 seed and 2009 US Open finalist, Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane beat Andrea Petkovic, 6-3, 6-2, earlier in the day. Lisicki is one of three seeded Germans to fall on day five, as No. 6 Angelique Kerber succumbed in straights to teen sensation Belinda Bencic.
THE QUESTION: What will Maria Sharapova have to do to beat Caroline Wozniacki?
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Прим.: начало отчета просмотров - 21.04.2014
увлекся дискуссией, решил добавить свои 5 коп. - интересная логика у вас, г-н. Сначала Вы неприлично оскоробляете спортсменок, - не обижаете (по Денни), а просто клевещете: называете здоровых людей психически больными (не имея на это никаких оснований), т.е. или легкомысленно не следите за базаром, или слабы в русском языке, или сознательно хейтерите. Потом бьете любезного хозяина блога ниже пояса (по типу - сам дурак, нерусский - значит помалкивай в тряпочку) и тут же - юлите и выкручиваетесь: да я не то хотел сказать, да меня не так поняли... - по мне так это полный нефэр. А еще шарофан - записи Машиных матчей штудируете... а о матче - очередной валидольный триллер от Маши с хэппи-эндом. Смотрел утром в записи, зная результат, но не сразу въехал, как можно получить 6-4 во втором сете при 5-3 и машиной подаче на матч? Ответ прост - отдать свою и взять чужую с 3 матчболов...
Я ответил Вам точно в стиле, в котором Вы говорили о Марии и Сабин.
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Многие женский теннис потому и не смотрят. Если из этого списка вспомнить, как ведут себя Корне и Янкович — мои нервы такого зрелища не выдерживают, особенно Корне. Янкович хоть смешной может быть.