Ana Ivanovic retires to gift Maria Sharapova the title match – BNP Paribas Open 2012
World number two, Maria Sharapova, was gifted a title match spot by the former world number one, Ana Ivanovic, after the Serb retired from the semi-final clash of the BNP Paribas Open on Friday. The 16th ranked Serb
had already lost the opening set 4-6 and was trailing a game down in the second set when she pulled out of the competition.
The match was the most awaited clash of the tournament but unfortunately couldn’t last longer. Ivanovic was suffering from some medical issues. She even took time out for some treatment in the ninth game of the opening set but
failed to continue for long.
After her retirement, she talked to the media representatives and stated, “After the treatment, it was just getting worse and worse rapidly. We taped it and then I tried to continue, but at the end, I couldn't even return. I'm
very disappointed. I really felt like I have been playing the best tennis probably played in a very, very long time.”
She told the chair umpire that it was not possible for her to continue the match further and therefore the match was called off. Sorrow scenes were witnessed everywhere and Sharapova also denied to celebrate her triumph; she was
more eager to console her fellow semi-finalist who wasn’t in good shape at all.
In the opening set, Sharapova was the one who was broken first in the second game but she fought back to diminish the trail in the following game. The Russian starlet broke again in the seventh game that gave her a pivotal lead
in the set and after that the Serb also got injured and couldn’t play her natural game.
Sharapova stated, “It was unfortunate that it had to end this way. I thought towards the end of the first set we started playing really good, high quality tennis.” Talking about her rematch of the Australian Open with the world
number one, Victoria Azarenka, she added, “She is definitely the one to beat right now but I'd love to get my revenge from Australia and play much better.” The final match will be played on the eve of Saturday.
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