Sharapova prediction.

m2nk2 · Jan 30, 2015

Sharapovas tactic for the final tomorrow will be to play her usual routine which is to bash the ball as hard as she can from the baseline.

Unfortunately for her, this is Serenas routine too and guess what, she's better at it. Sharapova has tried this tactic against Serena for over 10 years and failed every single time.

So for the love of all that is good Shara, when you lose the first set. Can you perhaps try maybe a slice? Attacking the net? Short angled shots that will make her run, or just about anything different that will make Serena at least a little bit uncomfortable?

Please, do it for the WTA.

Bertie B · Jan 30, 2015

I believe Maria will finally break the spell and win this tournament.

m2nk2 · Jan 30, 2015

Bertie B said:
I believe Maria will finally break the spell and win this tournament.

Remember people saying that in 2007

heftylefty · Jan 30, 2015

Marsha attacking the net? Really?

penguin · Jan 30, 2015

what if she just hit it harder? maybe that work?

Captain Ron · Jan 30, 2015

I'm a Maria fan and I hope she plays well and wins. Big fan of her determination.
Hope its a good match and I hope Serena's flu isn't a factor.
Looking forward to a good match

ScentOfDefeat · Jan 30, 2015

There is no version of current Sharapova that can beat any version of current Serena. Honestly, I can only see Sharapova winning if Serena injures herself or doesn't even show up. When these two play against each other, it's like table football with the table tilted at a 70º angle.

ScentOfDefeat · Jan 30, 2015

heftylefty said:
Marsha attacking the net? Really?

It would be funny if she came out playing like Navratilova, rushing that friggin' net at every opportunity. It couldn't hurt her, she's lost playing her game every single time since 2004!

Captain Ron · Jan 30, 2015

ScentOfDefeat said:
There is no version of current Sharapova that can beat any version of current Serena. Honestly, I can only see Sharapova winning if Serena injures herself or doesn't even show up. When these two play against each other, it's like table football with the table tilted at a 70º angle.

It may be the definition of insanity but I'll still watch hoping for a different result

I actually think Maria has a chance. If she doesn't get frustrated when Serena hits her shots and keeps going after her. We'll see.

Vanhool · Jan 30, 2015

She says she's been working on new stuff. Been hitting a few droppers. I hope Serena beats her, but Maria's form has been better than hers lately and if she's able to add the element of surprise, who knows? I say 3 sets, Serena. Tbh, I could imagine almost any outcome....

spystud · Jan 30, 2015

m2nk2 said:
So for the love of all that is good Shara, when you lose the first set.

Big Maria fan, but have a feeling she wins the first only to wake Serena up, then the predictable happens. Would REALLY love to be wrong though.

kishnabe · Jan 30, 2015

Why did the match thread get locked.....nothing venomous was in there.

m2nk2 · Jan 30, 2015

kishnabe said:
Why did the match thread get locked.....nothing venomous was in there.

A reason was never given...

THUNDERVOLLEY · Jan 30, 2015

Bertie B said:
I believe Maria will finally break the spell and win this tournament.

I believe this is a strong possibility, as I do not think the AO is Serena's major anymore.

Cfidave · Jan 30, 2015

If the Serena loses, it will be due to not being 100%. Maria won't beat her any other way. Not even the ridiculous screams bother Serena.

Tennis_Hands · Jan 30, 2015

heftylefty said:
Marsha attacking the net? Really?

It makes for a great spectacle.

The phrase "like a cow on ice" comes to mind.

:mrgreen:

borg number one · Jan 30, 2015

I think Maria Sharapova has a chance and agree that she needs to play her primarily style of aggressive baseline tennis. She's playing very well. Yet, mix in good serving, attacking short balls, and returning well and perhaps she can take it to three sets and win the Australian Open. Serena is playing very well though, so it's going to be tough yet quite possible.

AngieB · Jan 30, 2015

Cfidave said:
If the Serena loses, it will be due to not being 100%. Maria won't beat her any other way. Not even the ridiculous screams bother Serena.

The fallacy in your remark is that with Serena approaching 34 years of age, she cannot regularly play 100% even 80% of the time. It is inevitable that Maria will be able to get a few big wins here and there, assuming Serena doesn't retire really soon.

FYI, both Serena and Maria do their fair share of on-court screaming, fist-pumping, et al.

The narrow-mindedness in mindboggling. What happened to objectivity?

#PTL #JC4Ever

AngieB

AngieB · Jan 30, 2015

Tennis_Hands said:
It makes for a great spectacle.

The phrase "like a cow on ice" comes to mind.

:mrgreen:

When placed in its proper context, "Cow on ice" relates to Maria's self-deprecating humor, surrendering her poor clay-court prowess almost 10 years ago. Fast-forward, and she is this generations best clay court player, holding (2) French Open Championships.

Maria flipped "it" and I'm sure there is more she'll be able to "flip" going forward.

#PTL #JC4Ever

AngieB

GL44 · Jan 30, 2015

spystud said:
Big Maria fan, but have a feeling she wins the first only to wake Serena up, then the predictable happens. Would REALLY love to be wrong though.

How could you possibly be a big Maria fan while having to listen to those ludicrous screams? There's simply no place for it in tennis. You can't tell me she can't make an adjustment and at least try to put a stop to it.

spystud · Jan 30, 2015

Been watching her & Vika for so long, doesn't bother me. To each their own.

sbengte · Jan 30, 2015

GL44 said:
How could you possibly be a big Maria fan while having to listen to those ludicrous screams? There's simply no place for it in tennis. You can't tell me she can't make an adjustment and at least try to put a stop to it.

Yeah, I wonder how some one like Sharapova can have any fans at all.

Bertie B · Jan 30, 2015

THUNDERVOLLEY said:
I believe this is a strong possibility, as I do not think the AO is Serena's major anymore.

Yes.

According to my calculations, Serena is four months past her peak. But nothing is set in stone.

We shall see.

sbengte · Jan 30, 2015

Bertie B said:
Yes.

According to my calculations, Serena is four months past her peak. But nothing is set in stone.

We shall see.

What about the men's final ? Who is favored ?

Bertie B · Jan 31, 2015

In the Sally Kirkland thread I have Murray's opponent.

m2nk2 · Jan 31, 2015

Sharapova 1/2 in attacking the net. Yet again her game plan isn't wokrking. Just like the last 10 years.

ButI guess she'll keep trying.

m2nk2 · Jan 31, 2015

Serenas playing at 70% of her capacity and yet wins in straights.

Didn't see a single slice from Sharapova. Just brainless bashing from the baseline as usual. Maybe next time it'll work.

Bud · Jan 31, 2015

heftylefty said:
Marsha attacking the net? Really?

No, it was Jan who attacked the net. The net won in 2.

The Harkleroad · Jan 31, 2015

m2nk2 said:
Serenas playing at 70% of her capacity and yet wins in straights.

Didn't see a single slice from Sharapova. Just brainless bashing from the baseline as usual. Maybe next time it'll work.

I saw one (!) slice and two dropshots. :twisted: If i'm not mistaken she won those points...

Sharapova needs some advice from Brad Gilbert on how to win ugly.

THUNDERVOLLEY · Jan 31, 2015

THUNDERVOLLEY said:
I believe this is a strong possibility, as I do not think the AO is Serena's major anymore.

Well, well. Glad to see my theory was not to be!

Tennis_Hands · Jan 31, 2015

AngieB said:
When placed in its proper context, "Cow on ice" relates to Maria's self-deprecating humor, surrendering her poor clay-court prowess almost 10 years ago. Fast-forward, and she is this generations best clay court player, holding (2) French Open Championships.

Maria flipped "it" and I'm sure there is more she'll be able to "flip" going forward.

#PTL #JC4Ever

AngieB

She is still like a "cow on ice" when coming to the net, so I don't know what your bragging about things past has to do with what I said.

#ABCD #EFGH

Netspirit · Jan 31, 2015

Nobody beats Sharapova 17 times in a row.

FuriousYellow · Jan 31, 2015

It's kind of like the same situation Roger has with Rafa. After losing over and over, he worked on new tactics to get past him and you saw Roger use them against lesser players. However, when he faced Rafa again, he fell back into his same patterns.

I saw Maria hit a nice BH slice approach and follow it up with a traditional FH volley in one of her earlier matches. She's been working on coming in more but it's a lot tougher to do that against a player whose better than you.

It's a shame she didn't start working on these things much earlier in her career, but she was having success playing her way and spent a lot of time trying to fix her serve.

scotus · Jan 31, 2015

A nice serve clinic put on by Serena.

Maria served well, too.

Was 126 mph the fastest serve by Serena last night? It was impressive. Nailing the T over and over again, and then on the match point, she served wide and hit the same spot twice to win the match (i.e., on the second try after the net cord denied her the first).

A performance even Sampras would be proud of.

Cfidave · Jan 31, 2015

Maria can't volley very well. There is no way that strategy works against Serena. She was lucky she got any points at net, Serena just missed a couple of easy passes.

She won't beat Serena at her best, she just needs to play her game and hope Serena is off. Playing the net and hitting drop shots, on a consistent basis would most likely result in a worse loss.

Sysyphus · Jan 31, 2015

The Harkleroad said:
I saw one (!) slice and two dropshots. :twisted: If i'm not mistaken she won those points...

Sharapova needs some advice from Brad Gilbert on how to win ugly.

So true. She should've been able to sneak out at least win over these years.

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