Anyone who saw the Andrea Petkovic and Maria Sharapova match last night on Laver saw Petkovic wipe the court with Sharapova. It's now the norm for the Sharapova serve to be completely atrocious and she has never had any semblance of competence at net, however add to this that her forehand, backhand and limited movement were also off last night and you get a blowout. It seemed that even she did not believe in her trademark fist pumps and thigh slaps and was just doing them to go through the motions. At 6-2, 5-1 Sharapova saved a match point and then started connecting on a few shots breaking serve and then holding to get to 6-2, 5-3. It seemed as though maybe I had written her off too early. Would Petkovic feel the pressure mounting on the second time of asking to serve out the match? On the penultimate point, Sharapova badly missed a volley and on match point, she dumped a routine shot into the bottom of the net and that was all she wrote.
Ever since returning from shoulder surgery, Sharapova has just not been the same. I hope she does make it back to the top but it is hard for me to see that happening. She is a great fighter and talent and it is a shame that she is a shadow of her former self. Sharapova was philosophical in her post-match interview and has vowed to continue on. I have to admire her for her fight to push on. She is the highest paid female athlete in the world. She has accomplished so much in tennis winning 3 slams and being a former world no. 1. She doesn't need tennis, but there is no place she'd rather be than on the court and competing.
I would love to see her make a great comeback!!
ReplyDeleteGreat first post Will!!
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