Maria Sharapova vs. Ana Ivanovic: Semi-final Preview – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Stage is set for the word class semi-final clash between the two arch rivals and former world number one players, Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic. The match will be played at the hard courts of California in Indian Wells. The
prize money set for the BNP Paribas Open is $5,536,664 and is recognized as the Premier Mandatory tournament in the Women Tennis Association.
The Russian tennis starlet outfoxed her compatriot, Maria Kirilenko, in the three-hour marathon quarter-final, whilst the Serb beauty queen overpowered the seventh seed French, Marion Bartoli, in straight sets. It is going to be
a thrilling encounter between the two tennis professionals who have recently found their supreme run of form.
Sharapova made a comeback to the tennis circuit in the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open and stunned everyone by cruising into the grand finale, dropping just two sets on her way. She was undone by the reigning
world number one, Victoria Azarenka, but the mind-startling start to her career after a major injury lay-off set the tone for her.
Ivanovic on the other hand has been consistently reaching the advanced stages of most of the tournaments. She was the one who dumped the defending champion, Caroline Wozniacki, in the fourth round contest and sailed her way into
the quarter-finals.
Going back in the history, both players have faced each other on five different occasions with the head-to-head scores delicately poised at 3-2 in favour of the Russian.
Sharapova was the top seed contestant in the Generali Ladies Linz tournament way back in 2006 when she first met the Serb. She ousted her in straight sets but not before Ivanovic tested to her limits. The scores were 7-6(3), 7-5.
Ivanovic pounced back on the Russian with a double win in 2007. She trounced Sharapova in the Toray Pan Pacific Open before clearing her way into the French Open final with a straight set triumph. World number two levelled the
head-to-head scores with a win in the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid in the same year.
The last match between the two contenders was played in the final of the Australian Open 2008. Sharapova was the one who topped the Serb in straight sets and clinched her third Grand Slam title of the career. Since then these two
players have not faced each other at the courts, so that definitely makes it a most awaited match of the tournament.
Both players are immensely talented with Sharapova having an edge of height as well as psychological pressure of greater head-to-head wins. The 24-years-old Serb will be eyeing a triumph to make it three apiece in the head-to-head
score as well as book a spot in the title match.
Ivanovic stays my hot favourite to win the contest but if we look at the stats and recent performance, Sharapova has the better odds. Both players will have equal support at the arena as both of them adorable and their game style
is absolutely mind-blowing.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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