Maria Sharapova thumps Sara Errani to write off the first hurdle – WTA Championships 2012
World number two, Maria Sharapova, commenced her Istanbul campaign with a rematch of the French Open 2012. She locked horns with the Italian superstar, Sara Errani, and bamboozled her with a same score line from Paris 6-3, 6-2
in just a fraction over an hour and a half.
The 25-year-old Russian committed twice as many unforced errors than her rival (26 to 13) but the highlight of the match was wrapped up in those 39 scintillating winners that were six and half times more than her rival’s tally
of six.
World number seven, Sara Errani, had her opponent under the cosh in the opening game but couldn’t squeeze a breakthrough. However, she failed to hold serve in the following game that gave a lead to the Russian. Former world number
one squandered the good start and lost a breakthrough in the third game that helped Errani to equalize at 2-2 courtesy to a serve hold.
It was a sloppy start from the 6’2 tall Russian. However, she gathered some momentum and thrashed her rival to a trail once again with another breakthrough to her name. She led the scores 4-2 at that stage and lost just one point
apiece on her two following serves to round off the opening set.
Errani couldn’t hold serve in the first game of the second; rather failed to win a single point. Sharapova took advantage of that and capitalized on the cheeky start with another breakthrough to pile up a lead of 4-1 on her rival.
She held her serve successfully to make it 5-1 in her favour. Sharapova just lost a single point during her final serve game that booked her first win in Istanbul in two years.
In an on court interview after the contest, Sharapova said, “It was a slow start - I gave Sara a lot of time, and that's what she likes. Her variety is what has won her so many matches this year. She loves to open the angles. I
think the points were going a bit too long - I just tried to step in and be more aggressive after that, and it really helped me.”
Commenting about the experience of playing at Istanbul, Sharapova confessed, “When you're out here and feeling good it's such a big motivation, and it's the last tournament of the year too, so while I'm going to enjoy some time
off after this, right now it's all business.”
Maria Sharapova will return to the arena on Wednesday to lock horns with Agnieszka Radwanska who also picked up the win against Petra Kvitova on the opening day.
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