Thursday, March 31, 2011

Azarenka and Sharapova to play final in Miami

Victoria Azarenka, the 8th seed in the Sony Ericsson Open and the champion in 2009, made her way to the final tonight by soundly defeating an error-prone Vera Zvonareva 6-0, 6-3 in the semifinals. Zvonareva was the tournament's 3rd seed; Azarenka took out the 2nd seed, Kim Clijsters, in the quarterfinals. Even though she is a former champion, Azarenka has moved rather quietly through this event, and her level of play has risen with ever new match.

Earlier today, Andrea Petkovic saw her excellent run end when she played Maria Sharapova. Sharapova won, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, and that scoreline tells you what you need to know. "More than anything," Sharapova said after the match, "I sensed that she was tired--probably a lot of the dancing that she's been doing--and I took advantage of it." That is, of course, a reference to the dance the 21st seed does after a victory. By the way, Petkovic says she is doing away with this routine, so we have seen her last dance, but I may keep calling her Dance Party--it's a habit.

Sharapova, the 16th seed, has a 2-2 record against Azarenka. The final takes place on Saturday, and it's going to be a loud one.
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5 comments:

  1. DanielMarch 31, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    Safe travel Diane! See ya Monday!

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  2. DianeApril 1, 2011 at 7:04 AM

    I look forward to it!

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  3. sventeApril 1, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    I first read that Sharapova quote elsewhere and while I think she was joking around (not out of character for her) the 'consensus' was that she was so pissed that Petkovic danced after beating her at the Australian Open that she was being snide.

    Now, I have no personal relationship with Sharapova - she keeps cancelling our plans to have coffee... :p - but I would like to think that an athlete of her caliber, not to mention again of her humor, was not so much incensed that Petkovic danced in celebration "of beating a top player" as much as she was frustrated with herself for losing.

    But, y'know, that's not as good a lie. I mean storyline.

    And again, I could be wrongity wrong wrong.

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  4. billApril 1, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    Ha! A show of mettle from a former No. 1 re Petkorazzi. Dance Party should keep dancing, and fire back re Maria's grunting.

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  5. DianeApril 2, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    I didn't get to see the press conference, but I can just see Maria's face now.

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