Maria Sharapova vs Vera Zvonareva – Semi-final Preview: Western & Southern Open 2011
August 20th, 2011 will see a clash between two Russian compatriots, world number 7 Maria Sharapova and world number 2 Vera Zvonareva at the Western and Southern Open 2011. The two will battle it out on the hard courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, for the tenth time.
The players have adapted to each other’s style and technique as they have contested nine times prior to this event. Out of the total matches played against each other, only one was on a clay surface while the rest were on hard courts; out of the 8 hard court matches, the younger Russian (Sharapova) has won 5 whilst Zvonareva has accomplished only 3. Hence, it is likely that the 24-year-old Russian (Sharapova) will bag yet another victory over her olden adversary.
The last two contests that they participated against each other, Sharapova was a stronger player and was triumphant over them in 2008 and then 2009. Sharapova will be looking to book a spot for herself in the final to defend her title and also in redemption for her early round exit to Galina Voskoboeva at the Rogers Cup.
Almost all tennis gurus are of the opinion that given the experience and the statistical edge, the three time grand slam winner will reign over her opponent. Although, a few are of the view that Zvonareva might have caught on to her opponent’s play but in my opinion it is unlikely.
Although, both the players have won this title once in their professional career, Zvonareva is attuned to the hard courts of Cincinnati as she has played this event 5 times and has an impressive 11- 4 win loss career mark here. In the summer of 2006 when she took down Katarina Srebotnik in straight sets of 6-2, 6-2, she finally took the crown home. However, Sharapova was not to be left out and quickly adapted to the air of Cincinnati. In 2010 during the final round she flabbergasted the then world number 7 Kim Clijsters by bouncing back from a set down to snatch the title for herself.
Despite her age Zvonareva proved that she still has a lot more to bring to the table as she has made it to the semi-finals of most of the events, a runner up at Carlsbad, and semi-finalist at the Australian Open (where she lost to Kim Clijsters), Pattaya City and Miami. This year’s two time WTA titlist (Zvonareva), holds a win-loss record of 28-8 during the hard court season.
Defending champion at the Cincinnati Masters, the Russian is playing her second year. Debuting in 2010, the Russian defeated Anastasia Yuchenkova en-route to a victory in the final against Kim Clijsters. In addition, this year she clogged 34 matches and lost 10 and was also able to clench her 23rd WTA title at the International BNL D’Italia.
The former world number one has had an amazing year as she was talented to qualify to the quarter finals, semi finals, of most of her events on tour. She contested in all three Grand Slams this year; coming out as a runner up at the Wimbledon Championships losing to Petra Kvitova in the final.
Nevertheless, Maria Sharapova is a laureate in tennis history and has won three grand slams. Sharapova made her professional breakthrough at the age of 17 in 2004 when she upset the two time defending champion of Wimbledon, Serena Williams in the final to win her debut grand slam title.
Out of the two compatriots, Maria Sharapova is a Russian maestro and is the stronger player. With a consistent improvement and given the statistical edge in her games she is expected to pass the world number 2, Vera Zvonareva in three sets.
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