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Sharapova Powers Past Bouchard
Maria Sharapova ripped 19 winners - including a huge forehand on match point - to cruise past Eugenie Bouchard and into the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Published January 27, 2015 12:15
MELBOURNE, Australia - Maria Sharapova outslugged Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets on Tuesday to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open and keep her hopes of returning to World No.1 alive.
A lot was expected of this match - the last time they played it was an absolute nail-biter in the semifinals of the French Open, and both had looked very strong in their last few rounds here.
But from the outset it was clear Sharapova was the player to beat on the day, breaking serve in the very first game of the match and, after a string of holds from both players, breaking again in the ninth game to take the first set, 6-3. Bouchard missed a backhand down the line wide on set point.
It didn't take long for the No.2-seeded Sharapova to strike again, breaking for a 3-1 lead in the second set, and a few games later she broke the No.7-seeded Bouchard one last time to close it out, 6-3, 6-2. Sharapova ripped a huge forehand winner down the line on her first match point.
That forehand winner put Sharapova into the positives in her winners-to-unforced errors differential on the match (19 to 18). Bouchard ended up with a negative differential of -17 (13 to 30).
From WTA
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Sharapova too strong for Bouchard
No.2 seed Maria Sharapova reaches her seventh AO semifinal with a comprehensive 6-3 6-2 victory against Canada's Eugenie Bouchard.
Tuesday, 27 January, 2015
Maria Sharapova has advanced to her seventh semifinal at Melbourne Park with a resounding 6-3 6-2 win over Eugenie Bouchard.
The second seed was imperious from the back of the court to heap pressure on the Canadian, who found her aggressive instincts being countered with an even more intense, consistent force.
Sharapova's rock-solid returning, impressive ground-stroke depth and relentless power proved too much for the seventh-seeded Bouchard to content with; she dropped serve immediately and was playing catch-up for the entire first set.
It was more of the same in the second set as Sharapova surged to a 4-1 lead.
Although Bouchard held for 2-4 after a controversial point ending with an incorrect Hawk-Eye challenge by Sharapova, the No.2 seed snuffed out any hope of a comeback with a service hold at love in the very next game.
Although the next game was a battle at deuce, from there Sharapova clubbed a return winner and an off-forehand winner to seal victory.
She will face 10th seed Ekaterina Makarova on Thursday for a place in the final.
From Australian Open
