Sharapova sinks Jankovic
Russia's Maria Sharapova beat Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 4-6 7-6 6-3 to win the Cincinnati Open and install herself as one of the favourites for the US Open.
There were 16 breaks of serve in a topsy-turvy final but Sharapova emerged strongest in the end to claim her second title of the season and the 24th of her career in the lead up to the final Grand Slam event of the season, starting in New York on August 29.
"It was a really tough one out there. It was so physical and in the end, it could have gone either way," said Sharapova.
"We kept breaking each other in the beginning. It felt like one of us played a few good points and than the other one and the levels were up and down throughout the match.
"So, I'm just fortunate that at the end of the day I'm the winner."
Sharapova started the match brightly, serving well and looking swift on her feet as she took a 4-1 lead but then Jankovic fought back and her Russian opponent crumbled in alarming fashion.
Jankovic won the next five games to take the set as Sharapova's serve fell to pieces with five double-faults contributing to her problems.
The second set was riddled with unforced errors from both players, 27 from Sharapova and 21 from Jankovic but the Russian won the tie-break 7-3 to force the match into a third set.
The first six games of the third set were all broken before Sharapova held serve to go 4-3 up and she showed her old killer instinct to finish off the encounter.
Sharapova's other win this season came in Rome.
The former world number one did make the final at Wimbledon but lost to Czech Petra Kvitova. Sharapova was projected to rise to fourth in the world rankings on the back of her latest win.
But what matters most to her now is a shot at her first grand slam title since the Australian Open in 2008 and she said she had gained confidence for that test.
"It's great to have a win under your belt going into a major, absolutely," she said.
"I played some good matches here and it's great to have this win. I came here wanting to play matches and wanting to raise my level, and I think I did that."
Comment 84 - 103 of 103
Lets go Shazza lets go!!
@Wokoma Alvin - I don`t know what is exactly precise and sharp by your standards, but I guaranty you that Sharapova, with that kind of attacking strokes would beat many from ATP man ;) not kidding.. she has also set a match with Novak in USO exhibition, and I`m little beat afraid for Nole ;))) she could kick his ars for that crazy video..
Seriously, I know she would make a problems to some in ATP in top 50 also .. try to compare hitting in first round of Masters for instance of some top 50 ATP players with Sharapova strokes, and you`ll see I’m right ! Girl is devastating (except serve), back in right form, thus he can make serious of errors.. or tactically good players are able to make her commit lots of errors, like JJ did.
I`m not saying this only because she beats my favorite, Sharapova is really back to her best almost and I think in that form, really small number of players can confront her.
Yes I see now,
"I don't see anything that resemble precise and sharp in Sharapova's game last night and both ladies were far from looking good for the US Open."
you criticised the sharpness and Precision of Masha's game and JJ far from it.
Break of serve alone was a staggering 16 with 6 straight in the final set.
Ok, so if neither player broke serve and the match was 3 tie-break sets we should criticise their inability to make effective returns of serve then.
They break each other 16 times shows what weakness exactly, that they can't hold serve.
Did they both serve Poorly then?
With the exception of Masha dropping her last 3 service games in the 1st set having thrown in the occational double fault and that one service game where JJ served 2 consecutive doubles to lose serve, all other 28 service games were of high quality and both players attacked each other with ferocious and purposeful intent.
Isn't that what the game is all about, that and winning the FINAL any way possible???
Two players in excellent form playing in a Final a week away from the US Open and you see fit to criticise them.
If these 2 are not Red Hot condenders for the US Open then all the others should pack their bags and go on holidays.
Con - There's no where in my comment that states that there were NO attacking tennis in the finals. Of course there were attacks but it was for from "precise and sharp" as Pheonix saw it, If it was, then there shouldn't have been over 45 unforced errors in the match.
Both Sharapova and Jankovic played well in their respective run to the finals but I rather see them duplicate the same form that took them to the finals in Cincinnati instead of the one they actually showed in the finals.
We both have different opinions on how well they did in Cincinnati finals, but what better way to see how wrong or right we are than to watch their participation at the US Open.
I agree with clariss@90. How well (or not) Maria serves does effect her groundstokes. I really thought she should have beaten Na Li in the semis at the French. She has the game, even on clay. The more important the match is to her, the more the nerves seem to set in. I think she REALLY wanted the French. Winning it would have given her a career GS. Just can't afford that many double faults at this level.
I also agree with you about Wimbledon. I feel she has the game to beat Kvitova but after the French, I'm sorry to say that I was not feeling confident for her myself.
Her body language gives away just how much she wants it: raquet banging against JJ and at Wimbledon she was clenching her fist at her side so hard that it looked painful. Sometimes the time she takes seems to make things worse, to much time to think and no flow. One could feel a double fault coming, it's painful to watch.
She said it got emotional out there (against JJ) and it seemed so watching. Terrific fighting spirit to win.
If she could only sort the double faults out, she would be a huge threat at the USO and at the very top of the game. One thing to be sure of she will keep trying and I wouldn't bet against her sorting it out. Having fought back from such a terrible injury, she's not going to give up the fight now. Good luck to her.
woCOMA Alvin,
SIR,
All the best players were here.
They all had a go at winning this event and only 2 made it to the final, the best 2.
Maybe not the greatest final ever seen, but then again how many finals live up to expectation?
But this final had everything from serve breaks, to good serve holds, great attacking tennis from both players, fantastic retreaving and athleticism from both, gamesmanship, competitveness at an all high, drama and a lot of brilliant shot making.
Masha showed yet again what got her to the top of the WTA some years back.
The fighting ability that won her 3 slams and made her the no1 player in the world.
Likewise, JJ showed that her hunger is back, her retrieving skills were well displayed and had it not being for a Ferocious ending to the match by Masha, JJ would have walked away with this title.
Fails me why you think there was no ATTACKING Tennis in the Final.
JJ was all over Masha's serves in the first 2 and a half sets, some of her returns were forcing Masha to play half volleys from 6 inches from the baseline, she kept hitting into the corners and Masha was brilliantly scrambling balls back that would have beaten any other opponent.
Likewise for JJ, some of her retrieves would have made Djokovic proud.
Masha threw plenty missiles at JJ throughout the match, some missed their target but all-in-all caused the desired damage, keeping the pressure on the opponent and eventually winning the match, the ultimate goal.
Someone like you looks at the UNFORCED ERRORS and bases their whole analysis on that one statistic.
Stats do not tell the whole story.
Both players played 5 matches including the final, base your analysis on the whole week not just on one statistic.
Both girls played a very good final, and both look in great form going into the US Open, fit, competitive, hungry for titles, and their games finely tuned.
They both have a great chance at it!
i don't see any maria haters like @yeah and @who_isme? who keep claiming maria would be out of this tournament since before quarter? Ooops
Some interesting comments from the Eurosport commentators at the end of the match. They described it as 'awful' and on the basis of that match she is even less likely to win in NY. I actually agree, I have never ever seen Maria look so upset during a match before, she looked very close to tears in the 3rd set. She also smashed her racket down about 3 times (didn't break in though). An exciting match but the quality wasn't great.
Well done Maria
The world sexy sport woman
Maria played great till kind of unsportsmanlike behaviour from jankey scores were 4:1 Maria on top of her game
zero double faults ,she were able to held her service games to love,so she was in total command of first set and match jj didn't know what to do and she started to complain to officials about Maria's long preparations between the points ,to get under her skin ,I didn't know she is such a biyatch.I think she is ready to do anything on and off the court just to get a win, what a poor sportsmanship from horseface.
Anyway Maria maybe lost a battle(first set) but she still won a war (this match).
Game,set,match.
Congratulations Maria !
Pheonix says : ".. really lovely attacking tennis, precise, sharp,..." and
Con says : "..both girls looking good for the US Open..."
Gentlemen, Maria Sharapova held her own end and won the match and that has always been the goal when any two players step on the court to do battle. Sharapova deserve all the credit, however, the form she showed in the finals wasn't what she used to get there...same thing goes to Jankovic.
I don't see anything that resemble precise and sharp in Sharapova's game last night and both ladies were far from looking good for the US Open. Not when Sharapova accounted for over 45 unforced errors and Jankovic couldn't take advantage by committing just as much. Break of serve alone was a staggering 16 with 6 straight in the final set.
Gentlemen, it was not a pretty final. Sharapova was not sharp and precise and both ladies did not look good in the finals for the US Open. If they duplicate that form against any player, then they will have more time to shop downtown New York sooner than they will expect.
Who can and will TAME THIS LIONESS ?????
HAIL TO BE BRAVERY !
the only reason why maria lost the first set is because Jelena managed to get under her skin by complainin' to the judge -after that sharapova was so unfocused-great win tho-she definitelly deserved it - USO is next ! :P
Well done Maria. Good work to beat that ugly horseface. Hope u do well in the Open.
it was a nice match to watch because it was close and there was a lot of tension.
I think it's fair that maria won as she was the one who had more guts and went for it, espescially in thesecond set tie-break it was very brave of her to keep on hitting.
quality wise it was another very poor final but we are starting to get used to that in the wta.
Congrats Masha.
Never gave up, never lost belief in herself.
That's what won her this event.
Congrats to JJ who put on a great performance too.
Three break of serve early in the 3rd set especially at 2-1 up and serving she could have gone 3-1 up but full credit to Masha.
I am not sure her coaching advice in the 3rd set to hit the serve harder was a positive reaction, JJ was double faulting more and missing more first serves. She also was less effective on return of serve. She was great in the first 2 sets attacking Masha's 1st and 2nd serves with deep penetrating replies but Masha served very well in the latter stages of the 3rd once she got her timing and rhythm.
Rollercoaster Ride, both girls looking good for the US Open.
Dramatic and exciting match!
Goof Final, had everything.
Great fighting from Maria. Needs to clean up serve however as this seems to affect the confidence on her groundstrokes. Even the commentators (Annabel Croft and Andrew Castle) were disappointed by her performance. Hope she can sort it out and therefore be a real contender in the future for GS titles. Unfortunately, she was disappointing in the Wimbledon final and in the French semis this year where she double faulted at least 11 times against Li Na.
If she was playing either Serena or Venus do you think that could still be classed as "women's tennis" at all?
I couldn't care whether she wins another tournament just as long as she keeps on playing. Maria the only reason I would post on a tennis blog!
when you watch a sharapova's match (and i've seen many), you know that are going to see many breaks because, being her serve, you know, not just "weak" (because when she serves the ball in, that's a good ball! her first ball has no differece with her second) but inconstant. anyway, i think that's been a good test in the perspective of the upcoming open! maria can win because of her wonderful winners! (just so disappointing to lose a set when you made far more winners than your opponent, that just means that maria was responsible of all happened on the court! and i think now she'll get great confidence! wins like this make you feel like a number one (as she is in the race!) go masha!
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