2015 Australian Open Final: S. Williams vs. Sharapova

[Kieran]

Serena in straight sets.

What the hell is that picture? :laydownlaughing

Masha will win. We've heard it so often it has to be true..

Dunno who the small dude is but the big guy is Hong-man Choi, 7'2", 352 lb (160 kg; 25.1 st). Fights in K1 and other kickboxing/MMA events. He's a beast.

Little guy looks a little tough, but also a little too little!

 

[rugged]

Wow! not even one vote for Pova. I am taking Serena is straight sets. As Patrick has said before (when asked at the beginning of a match about their strategy against Pova). Patrick said she will come out playing at a high level, but will not be able to sustain it. This is true. Even when Maria has gotten out to a good start (winning the first set in Miami or going up a break in the first set at the French), it is just a matter of time before Serena overwhelms her. Serena slams down a series of aces and out paces her in rallies. This time will be no different.

As Pete Bodo once said (paraphrase) Maria scream and shriek and make her way through the draw until she meets Serena who will crush her like a sugarpova gummy bear under her Nike sneaker.

 

[rugged]

Even with an eye-patch, a cast on one leg, and a dislocated shoulder, Serena wins this in straights.

LOL. You conjured up an image in my head of Serena crawling to the net to smash the ball for match point.:laydownlaughing

 

[colleen66]

Serena had to cancel her morning practice session due to her cold. She said she had felt better, then she felt worse. She did have an afternoon practice session, however. It will be interesting to see if this cold affects her during the match.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena had to cancel her morning practice session due to her cold. She said she had felt better, then she felt worse. She did have an afternoon practice session, however. It will be interesting to see if this cold affects her during the match.

Just heard updated news from Serena on channel 7,she said she was pleased with her afternoon practice session,she said she it just taking it easy,taken medicines to help the cold.

 

[tented]

Serena had to cancel her morning practice session due to her cold. She said she had felt better, then she felt worse. She did have an afternoon practice session, however. It will be interesting to see if this cold affects her during the match.

Just heard updated news from Serena on channel 7,she said she was pleased with her afternoon practice session,she said she it just taking it easy,taken medicines to help the cold.

Do you think Maria has a chance now?

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't ever feel I can automatically give this match up to Serena. The game is always full of surprises. Trust me I want number 19 for Serena, and I believe at this stage of her career she will fight tooth and nail for every slam final she makes to win it. However, a sick Serena is going to be looking to finish this match quickly.

 

[britbox]

I'm rooting for Maria but can't really make a case for her winning the match. Likely Serena in straight sets... but as the old saying goes "On any given Sunday"... Let's see if Maria can rephrase to "On any given Saturday".

Stranger things have happened though. Yesterday somebody confirmed to me that the moon really was made out of cheese.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

OK,
I'll be the one who picks Masha since no one else did.

Maria in straights!

 

[kskate2]

Serena will really earn this win if she gets it. She had the toughest draw and had to come through some dicey matches. I think that will help her be ready for Sharapova, especially if she's under the weather. Maria on the other hand had a more friendly draw. Aside from the match where she was down MP, she hasn't really been pushed. That doesn't really help her and I don't know that she can raise her level high enough to defeat a surging Serena.

 

[kskate2]

OK,
I'll be the one who picks Masha since no one else did.

Maria in straights!

That's really optimistic Kiu. After 10 years you really think Maria will defeat Serena in straights? Even if I agreed w/ your hypothesis, I can't imagine Serena not putting up some kind of fight and at least winning a set.

 

[Kirijax]

You never know what will happen in a match. But good grief, Serena gets sick more often than my four-year-old son runs into the wall for no reason. And that happens a lot.

 

[shawnbm]

I have been more impressed by Masha than Serena this fortnight. I know the odds are against her, but I get this feeling it will be Serena who will tighten up and Maria takes it in straights.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't know Shawn to be honest Serena has really turned it on with her serve these last couple of matches. Whatever problems Serena has had this year the one thing that she has been doing well this year has been the return which doesn't favor Maria if Serena is getting serves back. However, I don't take it for granted that Maria has been Serena's favorite punching bag for a decade, and Maria is about due for a win. I think it more likely to happen at a smaller event under less pressure, but who knows.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

OK,
I'll be the one who picks Masha since no one else did.

Maria in straights!

That's really optimistic Kiu. After 10 years you really think Maria will defeat Serena in straights? Even if I agreed w/ your hypothesis, I can't imagine Serena not putting up some kind of fight and at least winning a set.

Quote of the day:

“I think her power and her aggressiveness – I think that's always made me a little bit too aggressive, maybe going for a little bit more than I had to,”

One would think she would have figured this out after 5-6 losses??!

Well she figured it out!


Nothing is forever K...

 

[Calvy]

I don't ever feel I can automatically give this match up to Serena. The game is always full of surprises. Trust me I want number 19 for Serena, and I believe at this stage of her career she will fight tooth and nail for every slam final she makes to win it. However, a sick Serena is going to be looking to finish this match quickly.

I agree, I expect her to come out the same way she did against Cibulkova.

 

[Calvy]

[quo te='Kiu' pid='159381' dateline='1422631838']

OK,
I'll be the one who picks Masha since no one else did.

Maria in straights!

That's really optimistic Kiu. After 10 years you really think Maria will defeat Serena in straights? Even if I agreed w/ your hypothesis, I can't imagine Serena not putting up some kind of fight and at least winning a set.

Quote of the day:

“I think her power and her aggressiveness – I think that's always made me a little bit too aggressive, maybe going for a little bit more than I had to,”

One would think she would have figured this out after 5-6 losses??!

Well she figured it out!


Nothing is forever K...

[/quote]

Well, has you also consulted a sports psychologist, because, it's more than just figuring out that she's been over aggressive, because, in truth, that is not the reason she has lost the last 15 matches to Serena.

 

[kskate2]

OK,
I'll be the one who picks Masha since no one else did.

Maria in straights!

That's really optimistic Kiu. After 10 years you really think Maria will defeat Serena in straights? Even if I agreed w/ your hypothesis, I can't imagine Serena not putting up some kind of fight and at least winning a set.

Quote of the day:

“I think her power and her aggressiveness – I think that's always made me a little bit too aggressive, maybe going for a little bit more than I had to,”

One would think she would have figured this out after 5-6 losses??!

Well she figured it out!


Nothing is forever K...

Actually some things are forever, like taxes...

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

So what is the truth Calvy?
Tell us.

 

[the AntiPusher]

My concern will be to see how strong Serena will be .. I hope that she will have herserself properly hydrated because if she is takinfg cold meds, they can have a drying affect to quickly dehydate one's body.