Quite expected, Vika just owns MaSha, and has owned already for years. The only set MaSha can win against Vika is 1st set, she chokes the 2nd set because 1) she's already lost the 1st (like AO) OR 2) she's won the 1st set and starts to think "I MUST win now" (like USO). I didn't watch the match but I expect from the scoreline that 1) happened.
Imo Maria still is the better player, but she struggles too much with the serve against Vika, also Vika thakes the ball very early so Maria has less time to recover, Vika doesn't hit that hard, but uses the pace very well,the big advantage that Vika has is the movement. If Vika had to play the Maria from 04/05/06 or 08 it wouldn't be that easy..
She is, I'm sure of that. But it won't change the outcome of their matches if Maria keep playing and serving like this.
Maria is a player who was able to compete against the very best players in the game, players who are infinitely more talented than Vika and she found a way to figure them out, there is no reason for her not to figure Vika who is not as talented as Maria's previous rivals.
Now that Maria finally won her major on red clay she needs to find a way to become good on HC again, 4 losses in finals (0 sets won ) that's just unacceptable I want a major on HC next year.
Who Vika? at Olympics both were club level vs Serena. Being knocked out in second round is not better being knocked out in first, because both end up in hospital
Not surprised that Sharapova is just 1-6 vs. Azarenka/Serena this year..but I was surprised to learn that her overall record vs. Grand Slam champions during the season in which they won a slam is pretty mediocre. She has gone just 12-34 (27%) against Slam champions during the seasons in which they won a slam.
Wow, the insecurity is don't be mad at the fact that a 30+ player, missing part of a lung, well past her physical prime, is having the best year on tour even while this gas been Sharapova and Azarenka's best year ever. What speaks volumes is that this even includes Serena having a 1r exit on her resume.