Maria Sharapova has played just three ties for Russia since her 2008 debut and has a 3-1 singles record.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Maria Sharapova powers Russia into Fed Cup semi-finals
Krakow: Former world number one Maria Sharapova sent Russia into the semi-finals of the Fed Cup on Sunday as she defeated Poland`s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 7-5 to give her country an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Following Sharapova`s victory over sister Urszula Radwanska in straight sets on Saturday, combined with a three set win for veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova over Agnieszka, Russia are safely into the last four.
In front of a partisan home crowd of some 15,000, Sharapova, who recently lost the Australian Open final against Serena Williams, improved her record against the world number eight to 12 wins against just two defeats.
Agnieszka saved two match points at 2-5 down in the second set to draw level at 5-5 but ran out of steam as five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova closed out the match in 1hr 46mins.
Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 2-6 6-2 in Krakow earlier in the day as four-time champions Russia moved closer to securing a last-four berth.
Sharapova is competing in just her fourth Fed Cup tie since her 2008 debut as she bids to earn her place in the national team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Moscow.
All players must make themselves available for the Fed Cup in order to be considered for Olympic selection and world No 2 Sharapova wasted little time in seeing off Radwanska.
Kuznetsova had already beaten the elder Radwanska sister in 10 of their 14 matches and Kuznetsova claimed victory with an ace on her first match point after two hours and 17 minutes.
Sunday's opening reverse singles will be between Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska, with the Polish player knowing she must win to keep the tie alive.
Advantage
Sharapova holds an 11-2 advantage in meetings between the two and has not lost to Radwanska since the Miami final in 2012.
"It was important to start strong. I had a little bit of a let-down in the second set and she got a bit steadier," said Sharapova.
"I'm happy to get through in straight sets."
Elsewhere, 2013 champions Italy lead France 2-0.
Sara Errani defeated Caroline Garcia 7-6 7-5 to give Italy the lead in Genoa before world No 31 Camila Giorgi made it 2-0 with a 6-4 6-2 win over Alize Cornet.
In Stuttgart, Australia began well against Germany as world No 54 Jarmila Gajdosova defeated10th-ranked Angelique Kerber 4-6 6-2 6-4.
But the hosts levelled when Andrea Petkovic won a three-hour epic with Samantha Stosur 6-4 3-6 12-10.
In the other quarter-final, champions Czech Republic won both Saturday’s rubbers against Canada in Quebec.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was ruled out through injury but Karolina Pliskova and Tereza Smitkova won their openers ion her absence, defeating Francoise Abanda and Gabriela Dabrowski, respectively.
Meanwhile, in World Group II, record 17-time champions USA eased to a 2-0 lead over Argentina in Buenos Aires thanks to the Williams sisters.
Venus defeated Paula Ormaechea 6-3 6-2 before world No 1 Serena defeated Maria Irigoyen 7-5 6-0.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Maria Sharapova in Vera Wang and Rodarte Fashion Show
Maria Sharapova in Vera Wang and Rodarte Fashion Show!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Australian Open 2012
Meanwhile Sharapova has ransacked the competition on her way to the fourth round, winning six consecutive sets 6-0, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. In short, the 24-year-old looks poised to recreate the magic she produced at the Open in 2008. Sharapova has not won a Grand Slam tournament since the Australian Open that year, only adding to her motivation this January.
So what gives Sharapova the undeniable edge over a five-time Aussie Open champ in Williams? The fact that Sharapova is younger, fresher and hungrier for a title than Williams.
The 30-year-old Williams recently admitted that her heart wasn't in tennis anymore and that she has always been a sort of "lazy" person. Nowadays it seems Williams is much more interested in the world of fashion than the world of tennis.
A quarterfinal matchup with a player of Sharapova's status would prove that there is a high level of desire necessary to win at the Australian Open, tennis' highest level.
Who would win in an Australian Open 2012 quarterfinal matchup?
Maria Sharapova (4) Serena Williams (12) Submit Vote vote to see results
Sharapova is not ranked fourth in the world for her gorgeous looks. Her tennis does the talking and will continue to do so as the tournament wages on. She has yet to prove what Williams has already, and a win over a declining legend would certainly add another dimension to Sharapova's legacy.
The two have met twice in a Grand Slam final. Sharapova edged Williams at Wimbledon in 2004 and Williams knocked off Sharapova in the 2007 Australian Open final.
Both players will be favorites to survive the fourth round on Day 8. Williams will face off against Ekaterina Makarova while Sharapova will do battle with Sabine Lisicki. At this stage the two seemed destined to meet, and when they do it will be the youth and fire of Sharapova that has the last laugh.
Australian Open 2012
If top-ranked women's tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams can survive the fourth round at Australian Open 2012 in Melbourne, then fans will be treated to an epic quarterfinal showdown between two of the sport's best.
However, Russian superstar Sharapova would win in dominating fashion, much to the chagrin of fans of American tennis especially.
Quite simply, Sharapova has looked absolutely superb in three matches Down Under, while the 12th-ranked Williams has shown glimpses of early-exit potential. Williams struggled with Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the second round, winning 6-0, 6-4.
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