Petra Kvitova vs. Maria Sharapova: Semi-final preview – Australian Open 2012
Will you miss out the women’s semi-final clash between the second ranked Petra Kvitova and the former world number one Russian diva, Maria Sharapova, at the Australian Open? Not a chance! One of the most anticipated contests of
the new tennis season will be held on the glorious Rod Laver Arena at the Melbourne Park on Thursday, with the winner of the match getting title shot at the coveted Grand Slam trophy.
It will be a re-match of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships final, with the belligerent Russian ever-hungry for a triumph over the reigning world number two. Sharapova has been in sublime form during the past few months and have
made her way back in the Top-5 after some mind startling performances with her racquet. It is still to be seen whether the slender-legged Russian beauty takes down her arch nemesis to avenge the heart-breaking defeat she suffered at Wimbledon last year or
keeps losing to her in a humiliating manner.
The second seed Czech titan, Kvitova, is currently playing her career-best tennis and her sublime form has made her one of the toughest competitor to beat. Claiming her first Grand Slam title last year in England, Kvitova is all
tuned up for another emphatic championship victory in Melbourne. The 21-year-old Czech already has seven titles under her belt (six of which came in 2011 alone) and is looking extremely confident for extending her championship count at the Australian Open.
After stunning the former champion, Sharapova, in the final at Wimbledon last year, Kvitova beat her once again in the quarter-final round of a WTA (Women’s Tennis Association of Tennis) event in Tokyo. Although the Russian pulled
out of that contest due to injury, the Czech registered a 2-1 lead in the all-time head-to-head series against her in singles encounters. Sharapova is all set up to nail down the world number two in the semi-final battle on Thursday and cited that she will
throw the best she has at her opponent to stand victorious this time round.
“I've lost to her the last couple of times, obviously the big one in Wimbledon,” Sharapova said. “I think she is the one to beat right now. She's playing the best tennis in her career, coming off so many wins last year. I'm looking
forward to the match-up - I don't like losing so many times in a row, so I'll try my best.”
Kvitova has dropped just one set en route to the semis, winning four of her five matches in straight sets. On the other hand, Sharapova is also having a similar authoritative run in Melbourne. Her abilities were only challenged
once in the fourth round by the amazing German competitor, Sabine Lisicki. The Russian recovered from a one-set deficit to overpower her, depicting the intensity of her game and telling everyone that she means business here.
No matter which one of the two tennis titans wins on Thursday, one thing is for sure that it will be an absolute treat for the tennis fans to watch the two hot favourites going all guns blazing at each other. With better ranking
and a couple of wins against Sharapova on her back, Kvitova is deemed to be the possible winner in the semi-final contest but the fourth seed Russian will not let her have it that easy. A three-setter is expected in the semi-final, with Kvitova winning from
a narrow margin.
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