It's Maria v Serena in Semisby Bren O'Brien
Tuesday, 25 January, 2005
Posted on 01/25/2005 7:39:31 AM PST by theFIRMbss
It's Maria v Serena in Semis
by Bren O'Brien
Tuesday, 25 January, 2005
Women's No.4 seed Maria Sharapova will meet No.7 seed Serena Williams in an Australian Open 2005 semi-final after the pair notched contrasting victories over Svetlana Kuznetsova and Amelie Mauresmo, respectively.
2003 champion Williams had a surprisingly easy win over the French No.2 seed, triumphing 6-2 6-2, after Sharapova came from a set down to oust her compatriot and fellow 2004 Grand Slam winner 4-6 6-2 6-2.
The 17-year-old Wimbledon champion had to call on all her energy reserves to get past Kuznetsova, who broke her midway through the first set and eventually took it in 49 minutes. But with the mercury rising on Rod Laver Arena, Sharapova was able to square the match after a see-sawing second set, which saw six service breaks.
Despite a ten-minute break between the second and third sets, things didn't get any easier for either player in the decider with 19 unforced errors and the heat playing their part in Kuznetsova's demise, meaning Sharapova is the only Grand Slam tournament winner from 2004 left in the Open.
"I was a bit lazy at the beginning of the match. I didn't run for as many balls," Sharapova said. "But the third set, end of the second set, is when I think both of us started feeling the heat and feeling tired and we wanted the points to go a lot quicker."
Williams was always in control of her match after breaking Mauresmo early in the first set. The American was completely dominant, dropping just five points on serve for the entire set.
Mauresmo made too many unforced errors - 27 in all - and struggled with both her service and a groin strain. The net result was a comfortable win for the former champion and only 71 minutes on court in the sapping heat.
Williams has now won nine of her ten encounters with Mauresmo but said afterwards, having such a strong record against a player can prove to be a double-edged sword.
"I think next time she plays me, she probably feels she has nothing to lose because I have such a good record," she said. "In a way it's like I have a bit of an advantage but at the same time she does too."
Williams' record against Sharapova is not so strong. After winning their first clash in Miami last year, Williams lost to the Russian in the Wimbledon and Tour Championship finals. But she denies that she will be out to exact revenge.
"I look it at a chance to be in the final here again," she said. "I just feel my advantage is going to boil down to me playing my shots. Like I said, if I play well then it's hard to beat me."
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Well, if you look past the fact she looks oddly like Roger Federer, then you're still stuck with the fact that she is from France . . . I'd take the Russians. |
Oh...god...yes...
She'd kill me, wear me out and break me...
but...oh...god...yes...
And French.
Something about watching Mary Pierce play. She has too many little quirks she goes through before every serve. It slows the matches down too much.
I forgot to make my prediction regarding this thread, but I think Maria will beat Serena in three sets.
Do you know what time it will be on?
Sometimes they've come on
at odd hours live. They're scheduled
for tomorrow night . . .
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005
9:30 pm est
Women's Semifinals
Thanks :)
Errrr, ummmm .. if you find Mike Tyson's bod attractive....
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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Tyson doesn't have one of those Polly Purebred kind of tilted butts . . . |
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