I wanted Maria to beat Kerber at the AO, but I'm happy Makarova won. She actually plays well at the AO :lol: She lost to Kim in R4 in 2011, then to Masha in 2012 in the QF after beating Rena and now another QF
I wish she played like this more often, i like her game
As for her match-up vs Masha (most likely), Maria is obviously the huge favorite. She beat her 4 times in the last 2 years:
6-3 3-6 6-1 in Madrid 2011
6-1 6-1 in Rome 2011
6-2 6-3 in AO 2012
6-4 7-6 in Miami 2012
Come on guys, we're talking about 61 60. I know she wasn't perfect, but still. :lol:
Just think about how Vika already fucked up so much in her matches :shrug: I say everything is going ok, of course cutting down some DFs and putting in more 1st serves is needed from now on, but she's practically the one who had the best results so far.
she did well as the macth went on tbh, ended with a winner-ue ratio of 25-20 (5 of those UEs being DFs)
usually I HATE Sam Smith but I really appreciate her avoiding the grunt debate today. She said grunting doesn't bother her at all. :yeah:
Masha breaks the record of least amount dropped on the path to the QF of AO. Makarova will be tough but, probably tougher than last year. She sounded genuinely heaps confident and eager to take on Masha.
She finished with 25 winners to 19 UFEs, including 11 winners to 2 errors in the second. So seeing her improve as the match went along was encouraging, as opposed to seeing a total crapfest. The only issue was her serve, which has been poor for two straight matches. And it's a worry, no doubt. We've been down this road so many times the past few years, wondering and dreading if that serve would turn into a liability against the best opponents. And it did many times in 2011 and 2012.
I just don't want to see that kind of struggle yet again to start 2013.
IDK apparently she's serving GOAT in practice, I'm really not feeling the motion though. It's like an ugly hybrid of her 2012 motion and her original motion.
I quite like the new motion. It's far simpler looking, which I assume is to cut down on having different mechanics and timing that can go awry easily for her. Plus her slice serve down the tee on the ad side has wildly improved with the new motion
It is easy score, a hidden bagel:lol: but I must say that I was worrying quite much for her in the first half of 1 set...many DFs and her first serve...she was nervous at times, even with Vee it didn't happen... though 2 set was improvement.
Aha! The bakery re-opened for business, good to hear that. So it looks like Maria did not play as well as against Venus, but still clinched a 6-1, 6-0 score. Well, if Maria had to take it a bit easier at some point in the tournament, better today than later.
Makarova should not be plainly dismissed (and I'm sure Maria doesn't) but I do not see her as a big threat as long as Maria shows the same determination she did in this past first week.
One match at a time - as Maria always says - but the Semifinal smells awfully close.
Guys some of Maria's haters need serious help so lets pray for them that they find the light and stop the vile venom. As I KNOW they come to this sub-forum I'm doing it here now. So lets pray they find Jesus
I was worried for a while this would be another 4th round mess from Maria, but she really stepped it up, especially in that second set.
Amazing to think she only lost 5 games so far.
I hope she works on her first serve %, but on the other hand, her first serve winning % is sky high.
Keep up the GOAT stuff Maria :yeah:
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