Sharapova counts on experience against Kvitova
Source: Agencies |
July 2, 2011, Saturday
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SEVEN years after winning Wimbledon as a raw 17-year-old, Maria Sharapova is back in the final, this time as a three-time grand slam winner and the heavy favorite.
Petra Kvitova is preparing for her first grand slam final. The 21-year-old Czech might be dreaming of a debut like that of her Russian rival, who overpowered the top-seeded Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 in 2004 to make her mark as a future superstar of the women's game.
The seven-year gap between Wimbledon finals might surprise some, but it's not something that troubles Sharapova.
"That's the way it goes," Sharapova said yesterday. "You obviously hope that you can be in the final stages every single year, but I guess it's just not meant to happen. This is the year I'm supposed to be back in the final. I don't know why. I'm not going to question it."
Since 2004, Sharapova has added the 2006 US Open and the 2008 Australian Open titles. She also has recovered from shoulder surgery in October 2008 that took her off the singles court for nearly 10 months.
The 24-year-old Sharapova will go into the final with a different perspective. "I'm a few years older, more mature. I hope so at least," she said, smiling. "You develop, not only as a player, but as a person as well.
"Obviously a big part of my life is tennis, but at the end of the day I'm not going to be playing for my whole life. It's great to have someone that will be sharing my life with onwards. I want to explore life. There are many other things in life as well that I'd want to do."
Today's match will be her first grand slam final since 2008.
As she looked ahead to the biggest match of her career, Kvitova dismissed talk of nerves.
"No, I'm not nervous," she said. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow, for sure. I slept well. It's OK."
If Kvitova can hold her nerve, the final could come down to the serve. The left-handed Kvitova has hit 35 aces in her six matches so far and it was her serve that was a determining factor in her semifinal win over fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka.
Sharapova managed to beat Sabine Lisicki despite 13 doubles faults and a first-serve percentage of 48.
Martina Navratilova, the last left-handed women's champion at Wimbledon in 1998, said Kvitova "matches up well" against Sharapova.
"It's such a toss up. It basically comes down to who serves better," Navratilova said.
"Once the ball is in play, Sharapova has an edge with Petra. I think Petra will return better (than Lisicki did) and it will be easier for her to hold serve."
Petra Kvitova is preparing for her first grand slam final. The 21-year-old Czech might be dreaming of a debut like that of her Russian rival, who overpowered the top-seeded Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 in 2004 to make her mark as a future superstar of the women's game.
The seven-year gap between Wimbledon finals might surprise some, but it's not something that troubles Sharapova.
"That's the way it goes," Sharapova said yesterday. "You obviously hope that you can be in the final stages every single year, but I guess it's just not meant to happen. This is the year I'm supposed to be back in the final. I don't know why. I'm not going to question it."
Since 2004, Sharapova has added the 2006 US Open and the 2008 Australian Open titles. She also has recovered from shoulder surgery in October 2008 that took her off the singles court for nearly 10 months.
The 24-year-old Sharapova will go into the final with a different perspective. "I'm a few years older, more mature. I hope so at least," she said, smiling. "You develop, not only as a player, but as a person as well.
"Obviously a big part of my life is tennis, but at the end of the day I'm not going to be playing for my whole life. It's great to have someone that will be sharing my life with onwards. I want to explore life. There are many other things in life as well that I'd want to do."
Today's match will be her first grand slam final since 2008.
As she looked ahead to the biggest match of her career, Kvitova dismissed talk of nerves.
"No, I'm not nervous," she said. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow, for sure. I slept well. It's OK."
If Kvitova can hold her nerve, the final could come down to the serve. The left-handed Kvitova has hit 35 aces in her six matches so far and it was her serve that was a determining factor in her semifinal win over fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka.
Sharapova managed to beat Sabine Lisicki despite 13 doubles faults and a first-serve percentage of 48.
Martina Navratilova, the last left-handed women's champion at Wimbledon in 1998, said Kvitova "matches up well" against Sharapova.
"It's such a toss up. It basically comes down to who serves better," Navratilova said.
"Once the ball is in play, Sharapova has an edge with Petra. I think Petra will return better (than Lisicki did) and it will be easier for her to hold serve."
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