Can Sharapova break the Serena jinx?
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Paris: French Open is widely considered as the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world. Maria Sharapova will have her work cut out when she faces Serena Williams in the final of French Open, a match which can go either way provided Sharapova gets it right when it matters.
Defending champion Sharapova has been consistently inconsistent in the last couple of rounds, however, showing sparks of brilliance with woeful interludes, with aces and winners often being matched by doubles faults and wild errors.
Sharapova needs to get her act together and produce a near flawless display to entertain any chances of retaining her title and break Serena's winning streak as the American has dropped only a set en route to the final and annihilated Saran Errani 6-0, 6-1 in the semifinal.
The only time Serena has lost to Sharapova was in 2004 and since 2007, she’s allowed her to win just two sets in 11 matches. Although history is not with Sharapova, it does not take away the fact that Saturday would be a new day and both of them will start from zero.
Sharapova needs to step up a gear and avoid making unforced errors as she did against Azarenka in the semis on Thursday where she threw in 11 double-faults (along with 12 aces) along the way, and struggled to close out the match from 5-2 up in the third set.
Serena has the upper-hand and will start the match as favourite which is likely to put more pressure on her. Having said that, one reason why Serana has been so good against Sharapova in their past encounters is because she has not panicked and kept her nerves when it mattered.
Sharapova needs to get her service right to make a match of it. And probably being a better mover in clay court than her opposition, Sharapova will always be in the hunt for the French Open crown.
If Serena gives her a moment of vulnerability, Sharapova, like Kuznetsova and unlike Errani, will not let go the opportunity and is capable of grabbing it with both hands. It will be a contest of nerves more than anything else and who ever comes out better will be that much closer to the title.
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