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Start-spangled semi-final
10 Things To Know: The Semifinals
Can Maria Sharapova still take No.1 away from Serena Williams? Where will Ekaterina Makarova and Madison Keys' rankings go? Want to try some trivia? Read on!
Published January 28, 2015 12:15
http://www.ausopen.com/index.html
http://www.ausopen.com/index.html
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
http://www.ausopen.com/index.html
The tentative Maria Sharapova of the early rounds disappears as the Russian eclipses China's Peng Shuai in a comprehensive 6-3 6-0 victory.
By Michael Beattie | Sunday, 25 January, 2015
Maria SharapovaShaui PengMaria Sharapova
Call off the search – the Maria Sharapova feared lost in the second round has been found safe, sound, and shifting through the gears as Australian Open 2015 enters its second week.
The world No.2 was in irresistible form against China’s No.21 seed Peng Shuai, winning eight games in succession as she overwhelmed the 29-year-old 6-3 6-0.
“I feel like something, or someone, gave me another chance,” said the 2008 champion, who fought back from match point down against Alexandra Panova in the second round.
“I played solid,” she said of her fourth-round performance. “I don't think I did anything spectacular, but felt that I was consistent. I served smart at times. I returned quite well – I think that really helped me. I think I won the right points at the right time.”
Flawless it was not, but there were plenty of positives to be taken for the Russian ahead of her quarterfinal showdown with Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, a rematch of their Roland Garros semi-final in 2014.
The serve remains a concern – she made just 45 per cent of first serves and threw in four double faults – but the assuredness of her groundstrokes, which returned against Zarina Diyas in the third round, was twinned with some fine touch from all corners of the court that outfoxed the world No.22.
Peng, a US Open semifinalist in 2014, had matched her 2011 run to the fourth round at the Australian Open. Playing with both thighs heavily strapped, the flat-hitting former doubles world No.1 was comfortable trading blows from the back in the early stages of the contest but faded when Sharapova began skidding drives towards the lines.
Clenched fist bobbing at her side, Sharapova hit the front in game six after pinning Peng back with a series of ferocious drives. The break brought the best out of Peng, however, who immediately drew five break points of her own in the next game as Sharapova double-faulted her lead away.
Peng’s parity was short-lived. Sharapova dispatched a series of mid-court balls to swiftly restore her lead at 5-3 before holding to love, and a set that could have become tricky for the Russian was hers in 39 minutes.
Sharapova has progressed at this Australian Open in spite of her poor serving performances, but Peng couldn’t get away with making just 47 per cent of her first serves. The Russian took full advantage, winning 13 points off the 20 second serves she faced to dominate the scoreboard. Peng fought to the last but Sharapova won the points that mattered, and closed out the win in 75 minutes.
The Australia Day fireworks may be slated for Monday night, but expect more pyrotechnics on Tuesday when Sharapova and Bouchard, pitched as her heir apparent after a face-off. The Russian leads the head-to-head count 3-0, but Bouchard has got closer with each passing encounter – not least the three-set semi-final defeat in Paris last season.
“She's been playing really well in this tournament and also in the slams the last year,” Sharapova said of the Canadian. “Really confident tennis and inspired form. I expect her to come out and play a really good match. I'm sure she'll come out and play extremely well."
Sharapova & Bouchard To Square Off
Maria Sharapova powered past Peng Shuai in straight sets on Sunday to set up a blockbuster quarterfinal clash against Eugenie Bouchard at the Australian Open.
Published January 25, 2015 12:15
MELBOURNE, Australia - There were some rough patches early on, but Maria Sharapova hit through them and powered past Peng Shuai in straight sets to move into the Australian Open quarterfinals.
For the first 20 minutes of the match things were almost dead even, the two players trading breaks in the sixth and seventh games and Sharapova emerging from that with a 4-3 lead. But the match turned on a dime from there, the No.2-seeded Sharapova playing all the big points well to reel off eight games in a row, eventually finishing the No.21-seeded Peng off in an hour and 15 minutes, 6-3, 6-0.
Sharapova finished the match with her 27th winner of the day - a big backhand into the open court.
Awaiting Sharapova in the quarterfinals is No.7 seed Eugenie Bouchard, who regrouped to beat Irina-Camelia Begu earlier in the day to become the first player into the quarterfinals (read more here).
Sharapova has beaten Bouchard in all three of their previous meetings, their most famous match being Sharapova's come-from-behind 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory semifinals of the French Open last year.
"I kind of just remember a grind," Bouchard said of that meeting. "I didn't feel like I was playing great tennis the whole time, sometimes here and there, but that's what it's about - trying to win and trying to always play better, trying to just get through it even if you're not playing your best tennis.
"I felt like I was close with her. I remember that. I remember I had chances and stuff. I just remember a really tough match. And I was pretty disappointed afterwards, so that's definitely motivating."
Sharapova was asked what she expects from Bouchard when they play on Tuesday.
"She's been playing really well in this tournament, and also in the Slams the last year," Sharapova said. "Really confident tennis and inspired form. I expect her to play a really good match. We only played one time last year, which was at the French, and that was a really tough match for me. I had to come back from being down one set to love. I'm sure she'll come out and play extremely well."
And does Sharapova see any of herself in Bouchard?
"I personally don't know Genie very well," she said. "As a tennis player she's a big competitor. She's an aggressive player as well, who likes to take the ball early and dictate points.
"From that perspective, yeah, definitely."
