2015 Australian Open SF: Sharapova vs. Makarova

[Correspondent Kiu]

Judging by the votes here, it's obvious Masha does not get much respect around here. She should have been the HEAVY favorite...

I think Masha had a good game plan and executed it to the max as Maka could not even get close to executing her plan, too many errors from the normally solid #2 Russian.

Maria played pretty good today, I think her double faults were too many and she had too many errors but then no-one is always perfect. Look at how good Simona was before she lost to Maka and how good Maka was before she lost to Masha, all this happened this week.

The win puts a little more pressure on Serena, If she makes the final , she keeps her #1 ranking, but if she loses today, Masha doesn't even have to face her to take it away from her.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Finals stats for the match won by Maria Sharapova 63 62

Sharapova 23/26 BPs 4/9 Net Points 3/3 Aces 3 D/F 7

Makarova 11/29 BPs 1/6 Net Points 6/8

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SCGRS0s_iU[/video]

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOLI4A-6k1A[/video]

 

[colleen66]

Sloppy match that put me to sleep at 4-0 in the second set. I am not sure if Makarova will ever go to a slam final. She has the lefty weapons but lacks a little je ne sais pas to get over the final hurdle.

 

[Hoergren]

In a half full Rod Laver Arena Sharapova did what she had to do and not more - she has to step up her play tomorrow in the final although her chance of being #1 is gone - here some stats:

 

[10isfan]

Maka will regret this match for a long time. It was the middle of the second set before she realized that pushing the ball was not going to cut it against Pova. Did she see how Panova lost match points? Losing because of fear is far worse than losing from over-aggression. This is why I said Maka does not have the head to win. I really wish Ana were in the semi. She would have given a more exciting match.