Sharapova is the most experienced player of the entire lot and has the calibre of capitalising it to the fullest. Unfortunately, the recent injuries she picked up in Asia have surfaced as a concern over her requirements of being able to bring the title-winning form. Sharapova had an impressive year with two premier level titles in Rome and Cincinnati besides a final finish at Wimbledon, where she was a heavy favourite. Despite her momentous rise from the injury hiatus, Sharapova has never been my favourite. Her shaky, nervy play, high error count and a flurry of double faults weaken her chances at the Championships which is a field full of Kvitovas and Stosurs of the game.
Sharapova's opponent, and reigning US Open champion Samantha Stosur is one of the most unpredictable players on tour at the moment. Where she is capable of bringing a Serena-taming form on the most important day of her life, she also finds ways to succumb to a Marion Bartoli in a final (HP Open, Osaka) that changed the course of her career two years ago. Stosur has won three WTA singles titles to her name but also has the game, which is worthy of destroying the most ferocious warriors on court, only on a given day. And here, we are talking about an entire WEEK.
Both players have met nine times and Sharapova has an overehelming 9-0 lead in the head-to-head. In the pair's three meetings earlier this year, Sharapova recorded comfortable victories to eventually claim titles in Rome and Cincinnati besides a runner up finish to Azarenka in Miami.
Sharapova's key to success today will be her percentage tennis. Stosur, on the other hand, can emulate her US Open final performance if she makes a good enough start.
Stosur does have an upper hand in this contest and is likely to emerge victorious in two closely contested sets. However, if the match goes into a third set, things might go in Sharapova's favour as well.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق