Maria Sharapova guns down Maria Kirilenko to book a berth in the final show – London Olympics 2012
World number three, Maria Sharapova, booked a spot in the grand finale of the London Olympics at the expense of the 15th ranked compatriot, Maria Kirilenko, on the eve of Friday.
The 6’2 tall Russian blonde won the match in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to confirm her golden match against the former world number one, Serena Williams. Moreover, she compiled a 4-2 lead in the head-to-head series against the 25-year-old Kirilenko.
Sharapova commented afterwards, "Obviously it's tough to play a Russian on the other side of the net, but I'm happy that one of us can go for gold. I knew this was going to be a really tough match. My previous meeting against Maria was really tough - she had so many chances to win that match. And she has been having such a great grass court season, getting to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. It's incredible, not only to be a part of this event and be an Olympian, but to put yourself in with an opportunity to go for gold. It's a really nice feeling."
Sharapova commenced the match with a commanding serve hold and so did her rival. However, the Russian tall hard-hitter was under the cosh in the third game but she did well to survive a breakpoint and hold serve.
Kirilenko looked invincible; pinching in with two serve holds to love at the start and already putting Sharapova on the back foot with that little cameo in the third game. It seemed like the hopes of the 25-year-old Sharapova will be shattered sooner than expected but a sudden dip in the game play of Kirilenko helped her compatriot to pile up some pressure and finally win a breakpoint in the sixth game.
Kirilenko was close on winning a breakthrough back in the following game but somehow failed to clasp on the allotted opportunities and drowned to a trial of 2-5. Another breakpoint for the former world number one helped her post an emphatic first set score line.
The second set was not a lot different than the first. Both players hung on their serves in the first four games; surviving the scares. They swapped breakpoints that kept the scores together at 3-3. However, the following serve hold and a breakpoint in the eighth game put Sharapova ahead of her competitor with a lead of 5-3.
Kirilenko tried her best to keep the match alive but wasn’t able to convert a breakpoint that forced her out of the gold medal battle.
However, Kirilenko will play Azarenka for a bronze medal contest on Saturday.
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