2015 Australian Open Final: S. Williams vs. Sharapova

[Calvy]

So what is the truth Calvy?
Tell us.

The truth is, Serena owns so much real estate in Maria's head.

I don't know if you've ever played tennis at the competitive level, I have, and I can tell you, I have had times where another player has had my number, and despite my confidence before going into a match against that player(s), when the match commenced, plenty of doubt creeped in my head.

Simple fact is, just the smallest amount of doubt, and Maria has cause for a LOT of doubt, can cause a player game to drop, typically questioning which shots to hit, deceleration on shots and going for to much.

It's one thing to say you have figured things out, it's another thing to put those words to action. That being said, I never say a match is a foregone conclusion.

Is that truth enough?

 

[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.

Do you think Maria has a chance now?

Serena has had this cold for a few days now,Serena has too much at stake in this match I feel for a cold to get in her way.Serena usually is never happy with her practice sessions being the perfectionist that she is.I cant see Maria having a chance at all in this match,cold or no cold.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

The truth is, Ladies Tennis needs a Masha win, who wants to see #2 losing 16 times is row to #1?
Not counting Serena's fans...

I disagree with the notion that Serena had a tougher draw than Maria did, Maria battled a pair of top 10s in the last 2 rounds and Serena got Domi and Keys, one seeded 11(now 18) and the other unseeded.
It's true both of them faced opponents that never beat them before but that was the case for both.

 

[10isfan]

This is the final I dreaded, yet knew was inevitable based on Pova's easy draw. I don't want these two to meet because one of these days Serena will lose due to injury or sickness, and the media will go nuts. We will be hearing about how Pova overcame the shoulder injury ad nauseum.

Planning to stay up until 3am watching the match. Anything can happen. If Pova serves well and Serena is lethargic from the cold, we can get an upset. They are playing at night so the surface gives Pova a better chance than if the match is played during the day. Correct??

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

10 things to know about the Australian Open,from the WTA website,January 30th.

(1) Serena Williams (USA #1) v (2) Maria Sharapova (RUS #2)

Head to Head Serena leads Sharapova,16-2.

1. Serena is going for an historic 19th Grand Slam title.If Serena wins on Saturday,she'll have the standalone second-most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era,with 19,separating herself from Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova's 18.Steffi Graf leads with 22.

2. Sharapova is trying to separate herself from the Swiss Miss.Sharapova is currently tied with Martina Hingis for 11th-most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era with five.If she wins her sixth Grand Slam she'll have the standalone 11th-most.

3. This is the only Grand Slam Serena hasn't won since her year long lay off.Since her injury and illness lay off between July 2012 and June 2011,Serena has won every Grand Slam except this one.Before the lay off she has won this Grand Slam more than any others.

4. Sharapova has never won a Grand Slam title in an odd year.Sharapova's Grand Slam titles came in,2004,2006,2008,2012 and 2014-she's never won a major in a odd year.Additionally,she's never held two Grand Slam titles at the same time.

5. Serena has done pretty well against Top 10 players recently.Serena has won 22 of her last 23 matches against Top 10 players,her only loss since the start of her 2013 U.S.Open fortnight coming in 2014 WTA Finals round robin (to Simona Halep).

6. Sharapova ha beaten No1s before-like a lot of times before Lindsay Davenport twice,Amelie Mauresmo once,Justine Henin once,Caroline Woznicacki once and Victoria Azarenka twice-she's 7-13 overall.

7.But she's never on a Grand Slam from match point down before Sharapova,who saved two match points,against Alexandra Panova in the second round here,is trying to win a Grand Slam from match point down for the first time.Four players have done it at the Australian Open in the Open Era-Monica Seles,Jennifer Capriati,Serena Williams (twice) and Li Na.

8. We're waited a long time to see No 1 against No 2 here.The last time the Top 2 players in the world met in the Australian Open was all the way back in 2004,when No 1 ranked Justine Henin beat No 2 ranked Kim Clijsters.The last time it happened at any Grand Slam was the U.S.Open in 2013 when No 1 Serena beat No 2 Victoria Azarenka.

9. These are the only two active Career Grand Slam holders.Serena and Sharapova are the only two active players who have won all four Grand Slams.Four other players have done it in the Open Era,(Margaret Court,Chris Evert,Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf) and four more pre-Open Era (Maureen Connolly,Doris Hart,Shirley Fry and Billie Jean King.)

10. And finally the big stat of the day:Serena has won their last 15 meetings since losing back to back finals to Sharapova at Wimbledon and the WTA Finals in 2004,Serena has won their last 15 meetings.12 of those wins coming in straight sets.And she's beaten her on every surface too-outdoor,indoor,hard,grass and all the colors of clay-red,green and blue.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't think you can ever totally go by seeding when it comes to discussing tough draws. There are many intangibles that one can add to an argument about what makes a draw tough. I mean Serena had a lot of people who gave her losses last year on her side. Also, talented, dangerous up comers on her side. I think it ended up balancing out. I mean I have my own draw quirks like Petra Kvitova. I definitely don't like seeing her on Serena's side. I mean it is only a matter of time before Petra Kvitova realizes she can play tennis, and she goes on a tear.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The truth is, Ladies Tennis needs a Masha win, who wants to see #2 losing 16 times is row to #1?
Not counting Serena's fans...

I disagree with the notion that Serena had a tougher draw than Maria did, Maria battled a pair of top 10s in the last 2 rounds and Serena got Domi and Keys, one seeded 11(now 18) and the other unseeded.
It's true both of them faced opponents that never beat them before but that was the case for both.

Maria didnt have one single person in her half of the draw that Ever won a grand Slam.. Serena had numerous

 

[10isfan]

Sunday, what you say about Petra is so true. I don't know if she will snap out of whatever frame of mind she is in causing these losses, but if she ever does, the rest of the field is in trouble, including Serena. I hope they don't meet until the Wimby final because Petra can win that match.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

When Petra does well ata Grand Slam event outside grass,I might then reconsider her position,till then I am over Petra,who has all the weapons for a No 1 player,we all thought after her 2011 season,she could go on with it...well we all saw what happened.

 

[Front242]

Yeah, she's only really good on grass. Bouchard was petrified (pun intended) by her in the Wimbledon final

 

[sk310]

If ever Maria had a chance to win since 2004 its now. This is basically her best chance. Serena is sick an has been battered this week. Still I don't think she can pull it off.

 

[sk310]

The truth is, Ladies Tennis needs a Masha win, who wants to see #2 losing 16 times is row to #1?
Not counting Serena's fans...

I disagree with the notion that Serena had a tougher draw than Maria did, Maria battled a pair of top 10s in the last 2 rounds and Serena got Domi and Keys, one seeded 11(now 18) and the other unseeded.
It's true both of them faced opponents that never beat them before but that was the case for both.

Sorry I don't think tennis needs a player who barely exists on tour and barely participates outside what she has to do to win this match. She shows up, does well for a few months, then sucks for a long time barely showing up. She doesn't have good relationships with other players... She exists for herself. That's fine and I respect her for that. Still it's better for women's tennis if Serena wins this match as it will get her one step closer to 23 which would bring tons of publicity to tennis for the next slams that Serena will try to reach it.

 

[kskate2]

The truth is, Ladies Tennis needs a Masha win, who wants to see #2 losing 16 times is row to #1?
Not counting Serena's fans...

I disagree with the notion that Serena had a tougher draw than Maria did, Maria battled a pair of top 10s in the last 2 rounds and Serena got Domi and Keys, one seeded 11(now 18) and the other unseeded.
It's true both of them faced opponents that never beat them before but that was the case for both.

If you think Serena's draw wasn't tougher from the onset, I don't know what you could've possibly been looking at. We talked about the draw ad-nauseum when it was first released. The top was stacked and you know it: Caroline, an unseeded Vika, Petra, Stosur, Venus, Svitolina, Keys, Mugu, Cibby, Aga, Sloane, Townsend and some other really good players.

Maria's draw: Ana, Halep, Genie, Maka, maybe Pliskova (who else? I can't recall).

 

[kskate2]

The truth is, Ladies Tennis needs a Masha win, who wants to see #2 losing 16 times is row to #1?
Not counting Serena's fans...

Now you're letting your bias show. When Maria is bashing all those lower ranked players, and giving some of them false hope by allowing them to win a set, no one says who wants to see Masha continue to school these also-rans? :lolz:

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

May be you should remember Svetlana , Sabine and Peng? Aren't these good players?

It's not bias K, it's the fact. General tennis watchers come to see competition, what kind of competition is losing 15 times in a row? It's bad enough that some fans deny there is a rivalry...

Bias is with those who think one side of draw was stronger than the other. I did not see it that way, I thought the draw was balanced.

 

[Kirijax]

It's easy. Sharapova stops the needless screaming, really really throws Serena off her game, makes her wonder what is going on, and Sharapova wins in two easy sets.

 

[kskate2]

May be you should remember Svetlana , Sabine and Peng? Aren't these good players?

It's not bias K, it's the fact. General tennis watchers come to see competition, what kind of competition is losing 15 times in a row? It's bad enough that some fans deny there is a rivalry...

Bias is with those who think one side of draw was stronger than the other. I did not see it that way, I thought the draw was balanced.

I'll say this and then we can put this to rest. Svetlana and Sabine, I will give you a small measure of props because they are unpredictable at best, but Peng. :nono There can be no bias when the proof is right there in the pudding. Sometimes, at a slam, one side is a little heavier, it happens. This was one of those times. At the other slams this year, we'll see how it goes.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I am not going to lie I am nervous about this match because I am not sure what to make of it. I mean Serena has gotten better with her last two matches. Keys hits a mean ball, so that was good practice for this match up. I don't think Serena would be as dumb as some of Maria's opponents this tournament and hit down the middle to Maria. The Serena serve and return have been cranking well. I think Serena will want this win as it will relax her and make the rest of the season go smoothly.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Peng was a semifinalist in last year's US Open.

It is true that the bottom of the draw got decimated on the first day but that's not how it all started.
I think Serena got it difficult early and easy late, she could have met Venus and Vika instead of Domi and Maddie.

it's obvious we have to agree to disagree on this.

 

[special700]

Madison will now be on Serena's side of the draw in every tournament..