Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Wozniacki: semi-final preview – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
Excitement keeps soaring as another world class matchup is about to set off in Miami, Florida. Two former world number one players, second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia and the fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark, will
go one-on-one against each other in the semi-final of the Sony Ericsson Open on Thursday.
The Miami Masters event has already featured some nail-biting and eye startling matches so far but the best is yet to come. Two most stunning beauties of the tennis world encountering each other for a title shot at the year’s second
WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Mandatory event. It will be treat to watch Sharapova and Wozniacki in action at the same time, with both divas desiring to reclaim the world number one spot from Victoria Azarenka.
The slender-legged Russian is currently enjoying another sublime run of form these days and is ever-hungry to take the top spot in the women’s rankings. Although Sharapova hasn’t won a single championship title this season so far,
her performances in the most recent tournaments have been eye-catching for all. Seeded at number two in the tournament draw, the 24-year-old Russian has been phenomenal in the Sony Ericsson Open so far and hasn’t lost a single set en route to the semi-finals.
Sharapova outsmarted the eighth seed French Open winner, Li Na, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0, in the quarter-final clash to book a battle with the Dane. She stood victorious against Shahar Peer, Sloane Stephens and fellow compatriot,
Ekaterina Makarova, in the initial rounds of the event.
On the other hand, Wozniacki has been labouring extremely hard to get back her vintage form since the start of the season. The fourth seed Dane is 13-5 this year so far and she has also registered straight sets victories against
all the competitors she came across. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Petra Cetkovska and Yanina Wickmayer fell to her early in the tournament before she went through the ultimate test of facing the 13-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams in the quarter-finals.
Wozniacki was considered as the underdog in the contest against the American powerhouse but she beat all the odds to register a twin-sets victory, 6-4, 6-4, over Serena to earn a spot in the semis.
Wozniacki and Sharapova have faced each other on five previous occasions and the Russian diva leads 3-2 in the head-to-head series. They played two matches last season, with Wozniacki winning the first clash and Sharapova standing
victorious in the most recent one in Rome. Both the beauty queens have played on hard courts three times, with Wozniacki winning the last two matches on her favourite surface.
Wozniacki was very pleased to defeat Serena in the quarter-finals and desires to replicate the similar feat against Sharapova in the semis. She stated: "To be honest, I'm so happy I have a day off tomorrow. I can actually relax
a little bit, practice once, and then enjoy Miami. Maria is a strong player. I have been playing well lately and hitting the ball hard, so I really need to make her move - that's the most important thing in that match, I think."
It will be an intense battle between the two top-class athletes and Sharapova is the clear favourite for winning the match. Wozniacki fans are hopeful of another upset victory for their beloved tennis star.
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