BBC - 606 - - A30662778 - Solving Sharapova

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Solving Sharapova

Australian Open

by oldworldunderground (U10732434) 03 January 2008

So far this year Maria Sharapova has played two exhibitions and she looked very sharp in both of those matches, smacking winners from all parts of the court, setting up points with her powerful first serve, and displaying that patented fight that she's become known for on tour.

But like several other players (cough cough Davenport), she has yet to face some of her biggest opposition, i.e. the Williams sisters. Except the Miami match against Venus (which was played in terribly windy conditions and featured shaky play from both sides), Sharapova has consistently lost, and lost badly, to the Williamses in 07.

I'm not ready to coronate her again as one of the best players of this generation until she can prove that she can beat, let's face it, the only other Grand Slam contenders to this point. She has to show me she can beat Henin and the Williamses, the only Grand Slam winners of 2007.

Until then, there should be a couple signs that she's back on track.

First Serve: She used to hit this with power (100-115), variety (spinning away from opponents, e.g.), and accuracy (down the tee and slice away) until her shoulder injury came about. Then her kms/mphs suffered and it was no longer the weapon it once was. It looks like this part of her game is back.

Second Serve: She may not have had the best first serve, but throughout 2006, I believed she had the best serve overall. She had a very consistent second serve, and seldom was it a liability. This, as her 3rd round US Open fiasco proved, was not the case during 2007. It was so startling to see Radwanska stand five feet within the baseline and challenge the Sharapova serve consistently. Sharapova's game is founded on her serve. In both of her grand slam wins, she used her serve efficiently (not always going for aces, in her SF win against Mauresmo at the US 2006, she only had one) and smartly.

Forehand: When she won the US Open, this was the shot that put points away in the backcourt. She found angles and put a great amount of pace on the shot throughout the tourney. But this side has a tendency to get a little tight (I don't know how many times I saw this shot go in the middle of the net against Radwanska) and it can break down in a match. For her to win again, this shot needs to become the weapon it was 2 years ago.

Her backhand's always going to be there. It's her bread and butter.

Variety and Volleys: I really believe she needs both of these to stay on top as No. 1. Her serve, if it's back, is begging for a sound volley to back it up and keep opponents off-balance. This will give her a plan B and a good way to get cheap points. And she has the height to be a tough customer to pass at the net, like Venus.

Well, I know this criticism may anger a few Maria fans, but I'd like to know what you think about her chances for 2008 (I think she's got a shot at a Slam) and what else she can do to stay at the top (better movement perhaps?).

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comment by Biscuits (U7774523)

posted Jan 4, 2008

How many ways to tie your shoelaces are there anyway?

I'm in the "Henin good, rest of them boring clones" camp, but then the WTA has always been like that. Ivanovic huh? Let's see if she still has as many followers once she's lost that jailbait look and has still failed to win anything...

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comment by coolpixel (U6379863)

posted Jan 4, 2008

oldw,i find this thread of yours very strange.

you say
"I'm not ready to coronate her again as one of the best players of this generation until she can prove that she can beat, let's face it, the only other Grand Slam contenders to this point. She has to show me she can beat Henin and the Williamses, the only Grand Slam winners of 2007. "

to be crowned one of the best of her generation, all that miss sharapova has to do is beat the williamses and henis?

is that all?

there is no need to come close to henin's 7 slams? or overtake that haul?

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comment by oldworldunderground (U10732434)

posted Jan 4, 2008

coolpixel, what I meant about the importance of her beating Henin and the Williamses is that the best players in tennis history, e.g. Graf, Navratilova, Sampras, and Federer, have made and eventually dominated (except for Fed's case with Nadal-that remains to be seen)rivalries against their closest competitors, great players in their own rights.

Yes, the slam haul is important, and in my opinion, a little too important these days, but if she can compete and beat these three players consistently, the slams will undoubtedly come.

Henin and the Williams sisters are clearly the best players on the WTA Tour; they dominated the 2007 season. If Sharapova wants to have any chance of winning the big titles in the next couple years, she's going to have to go through them eventually.

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comment by duggietoo (U7210677)

posted Jan 4, 2008

"If Justine enjoys what she does she should tell her face!"

Conosu perhaps you would prefer her to wear a red nose, revolving bow tie and flippers.

Some of us just like watching superlative tennis.

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comment by conosu2 (U9956155)

posted Jan 4, 2008

I think anything she could put on her face would be an improvement.
If it takes the appurtenancies you itemise,bring it on!

"Some of us just like to watch superlative tennis"

So do I Duggietoo and with a little joie de vivre lika Ana Ivanovic or Jelena Jankovic.
JH speaks French she's eternally shouting "allez".Must get a section of the crowd to shout "Joie de vivre,joie de vivre" I'm sure she'd eventually get the message after looking deep into the eyes of Carlos Rodriguez for confirmation!

"What are they saying Carlos love?"

"Joie de vivre, my sweet"

" Merci"

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comment by Stuart (U3018951)

posted Jan 5, 2008

I don't see the difference between shouting Come on, Vamos, or Allez just different languages.

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comment by duggietoo (U7210677)

posted Jan 5, 2008

" don't see the difference between shouting Come on, Vamos, or Allez just different languages."

Nor me Stuart or indeed fist pumping and knuckle tapping ( doubles)

Its all preferable to continuous screaming or excessive " grunting"

Conosu

I accept we all have our favourites but we are talking about professional sports where most players are more intent on winning than grinning.

Lets face it you just dont like Henin which is fair enough but most of the great champions haven't been oil paintings.

Its the tennis which is important and 7 slams says something.

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comment by Rhetorical-Question (U10650599)

posted Jan 5, 2008

most players are more intent on winning than grinning.

I liked this one, nice one, duggietoo.

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comment by Stuart (U3018951)

posted Jan 5, 2008

Yeah that is a great line!

I wonder if Hingis ever said that!

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comment by Rhetorical-Question (U10650599)

posted Jan 5, 2008