Maria Sharapova is eyeing to capture the US Open (Part One: Hard court performance) – Tennis Special
Russian number one, Maria Sharapova, had a heartbreaking moment after she squandered her chance of complete Career Golden Grand Slam at the London Olympics 2012, a major sports event held after every four years. However, she is
now looking forward to capture her second US Open title in Queens, Corona Park.
The former world number one, Sharapova recently completed her Career Grand Slam at the French Open after ousting 21st seeded Sara Errani. However, after two months she bowed out to 14-time Grand Slam Champion Serena
Williams in the final showdown at the London Olympics. The Russian failed to grab gold but claimed the silver medal in her first Olympics appearance.
Sharapova is enjoying her best season after recovering from injuries. She started her campaign standing at number four in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) rankings at Australian Open. The Russian slaughtered Argentina’s Gisela
Dulko and American’s Jamie Hampton with a bagel in her opening two matches. She went on to crush 30th seeded Angelique Kerber with a breadstick to reach pre-quarters.
In the round of 16, Sharapova hit back to outsmart 14th seeded Sabine Lisicki in three sets to secure a place in the final eight. She broke the German’s serve five times to carve out the victory in two hours and 15 minutes.
The gorgeous Russian carried her momentum to outclass Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova who booked this spot after stunning Serena Williams. She needed only 87 minutes and capitalised on four out of 11 break chances to register a straight
set victory.
In semis, Sharapova rallied past second seeded Petra Kvitova before bowing out to the Belarusian number one, Victoria Azarenka, in the title-round.
The 25-year-old ruled at her Fed Cup clash against Spain’s Silvia Soler Espinosa before making a quarter-final appearance at the Open GDF SUEZ in Paris (lost to ninth seeded Kerber).
As a result, the Russian climbed to number two and high-spiritedly entered the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. She slaughtered Dulko again with a bagel in her opening match. Sharapova then tumbled several seeded players including
21st seeded Roberta Vinci, 15th seeded Ana Ivanovic and 20th seeded Maria Kirilenko before setting up a final date with top seeded Victoria Azarenka. Despite her brilliant form, the Russian again crashed out in straight sets.
Sharapova maintained her intensity at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami and despite losing her opening set, she bounced back to overpower Shahar Peer in first round. The in-form Russian then eased past her rivals in straight sets
to secure a place in the final eight. She devastated Chinese number one Na Li with a bagel and then battled past former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki, to reach the final showdown. Sharapova was edged out by fifth seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in straight
sets but she gained confidence boost for the clay season.
The ecstatic Russian made three final round showings on hard courts at the start of season. She failed to capture any title but high-spiritedly started her campaign on Madrid dirt.
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