(no subject)
I'm sitting in the office but able to tune into a live broadcast of Sharapova's Round 4 match under the lights. Can't miss this opportunity, must ignore actual work for the next hour or two and hope nobody minds.
Sharapova is wearing a neon yellow visor, which really brings out her visor.
The first game is a break for Sharapova. With ease.
The commentators are talking about her major injury from 2008. I guess these numnuts are gonna bring that up at every televized Sharapova match from now until forever.
Maria has her serve broken but remains up at 3-1, and I haven't seen anything concerning yet, just a couple of loose hits she should've made better.
Lisicki breaks at love to level the set at 3 all. I expected this to be a tough match, so still no concern. Lisicki is playing very well but within expectations.
A stellar save by Sharapova coupled with a pretty nice screw-up by Lisicki gives Maria a nice momentum point to go up 30-15 against serve. Attacking the second serve earns a break chance at 40-30, but after a quick deuce it's Lisicki's game.
Sharapova double faults to lose her fifth consecutive game and go down 5-3 to an opponent who is serving for the set. I think she just likes to scare me since she knows I'm watching. I'm not buying it. I've seen much worse.
Lisicki plays some very nice defense after falling behind in a point, but Sharapova is solid and gains a 30-15 advantage against the serve.
Okay, I admit that I got stressed watching Lisicki serve each of her two set points. And when she won the second, I felt a little sink in my stomach. But this is why we play best of three sets. It's never good to be this far behind, but Sharapova is good enough to come back from behind and win this thing. I'm bothered, but still confident.
Sharapova losing the first point on her serve is a nettle. I have expectations for her, that she will win this game. A fault immediately after makes me hold my breath, but a winner to go to 15-15 lets me exhale for the first time this set.
A solid volley takes the first game for Sharapova! The crowd likes it, but I'm not ready to applaud. Holding serve is still no more than a matter of meeting expectations.
Last set, Lisicki was playing Sharapova a bit by pitching some slow balls when Maria was braced for major impact. While Lisicki does win her first service game of the second set, her serve was less effective as Sharapova adjusted to the tactic.
Sharapova goes up a break! I would say this is just meeting expectations again, but she started up 40-0 and allowed Lisicki just one point before taking the game. That's a good game, I'm happy about that one. I'm not so much looking for excitement and big plays in this match as for confidence and consistent play. When Sharapova was younger, I'd often have to cringe before she made easy hits because of her tendency to CRUSHINATE everything and chalk up inordinate numbers of unforced errors. Now, at age 24, that's less of a concern. She still has a power-play style, but I can trust her to make easy shots, hard shots, tricky shots, and just about everything else at this point, really.
Maria had a winner called out and I think I raised my racket to challenge about as quick as she did. Sure enough, it's a winner for the Russian.
As Sharapova holds serve to go up 5-2 in the second set, let me say that I figured on Lisicki being a very strong opponent, and she is. She is making very quality shots, and this is a true battle. If the whole match continues in this fashion, the lady who wins will have much reason to be proud. As a bonus, the winner will move on to face a severe underdog, an unranked player who somehow ousted Serena Williams earlier today.
Winning the set on a extra break from 5-2 AD-40 was above and beyond. Now I'm impressed. And while I have respect for Lisicki's game, I'm starting to build a grudge against her for yelling "Come On!" in modo Mariae. Lisicki also slipped a bit and gave away some points in that last game with double faults, and Sharapova was happy to take them. We're level now at one set apiece.
The added benefit of winning a set against the serve is that Maria now gets to serve to open the third set.
Now tied 1 all in the third set. I'm not looking for fireworks here, just continued strong play. One break is enough to win the match.
Some questionable serves help Maria dig herself a hole, down 15-40 in her own service game, and she speaks a few words to the umpire in frustration when a ball of hers that landed totally inside the line (not even touching it!) is called out by the linesman, forcing a replay of a point she had surely won when the call was immediately overturned by the umpire. This is the third time this match we've had such a poor call quickly overturned, and it is disruptive to both players.
That same game went all the way to Deuce #6, and I crapped my pants about four and a half times before Sharapova finally won it. Like I said, whoever wins this match should be proud. Maria showed more signs of frustration, but they only show in between points and never affect her strokes during points. This is another one of those changes that has come with her age. A few years less mature, Maria used to play with volatility when she was high on adrenaline. Now it all works to her advantage, if it affects her ability at all.
No breaks so far as we move to 3-2 Sharapova in the third set. At this point I'm starting to feel the looming sudden death vibe of the final games. Once you're this far in, you don't have much time to recover from a break. If we make it all the way to 4-4, it's going to feel a lot like sudden death, because whoever wins a break will have a mountainous advantage.
SHARAPOVA BREAKS! 4-2! Man, I would be throwing such a fist pump if I weren't in a Control Room with dozens of mostly German physicists moving around behind me, you don't even know.
We're two hours into the match now as we go to deuce on Maria's serve, and neither player looks like they're any less than 100% physically.
Lisicki had real chances in that game but did not convert. A timely ace was crucial in lifting Maria to take the game, and she now leads the set 5-2 as the serve passes to the other side of the court.
Lisicki's double fault gives Sharapova a match point!
...And Lisicki forces the backhand error. Okay, back to deuce. My heart will just be beating faster for the rest of the match.
Holy crap, how did we get to Deuce #5 already? Lisicki takes two points in a row at last and closes out the game, passing the serve back to Maria who is still within inches of taking this match.
Maria follows up on a weak return of her second serve to power away a winner. 15-0. I feel it coming, this is the game.
Lisicki handles a second serve better this time. 15-15.
Let.
Forehand a little long for the court, unforced error. 15-30.
Lisicki pops the ball WAY up in the air four times in a long point that goes Maria's way. 30 all. I'm getting the trembles.
Lisicki's close ball called out. 40-30. MATCH POINT.
No return! It's a winner for Maria Sharapova! A well fought battle on both sides, but the Russian's the winner! All smiles as she heads to the sideline. Ekaterina Makarova is next in the quarters, see you in two days.
Sharapova is wearing a neon yellow visor, which really brings out her visor.
The first game is a break for Sharapova. With ease.
The commentators are talking about her major injury from 2008. I guess these numnuts are gonna bring that up at every televized Sharapova match from now until forever.
Maria has her serve broken but remains up at 3-1, and I haven't seen anything concerning yet, just a couple of loose hits she should've made better.
Lisicki breaks at love to level the set at 3 all. I expected this to be a tough match, so still no concern. Lisicki is playing very well but within expectations.
A stellar save by Sharapova coupled with a pretty nice screw-up by Lisicki gives Maria a nice momentum point to go up 30-15 against serve. Attacking the second serve earns a break chance at 40-30, but after a quick deuce it's Lisicki's game.
Sharapova double faults to lose her fifth consecutive game and go down 5-3 to an opponent who is serving for the set. I think she just likes to scare me since she knows I'm watching. I'm not buying it. I've seen much worse.
Lisicki plays some very nice defense after falling behind in a point, but Sharapova is solid and gains a 30-15 advantage against the serve.
Okay, I admit that I got stressed watching Lisicki serve each of her two set points. And when she won the second, I felt a little sink in my stomach. But this is why we play best of three sets. It's never good to be this far behind, but Sharapova is good enough to come back from behind and win this thing. I'm bothered, but still confident.
Sharapova losing the first point on her serve is a nettle. I have expectations for her, that she will win this game. A fault immediately after makes me hold my breath, but a winner to go to 15-15 lets me exhale for the first time this set.
A solid volley takes the first game for Sharapova! The crowd likes it, but I'm not ready to applaud. Holding serve is still no more than a matter of meeting expectations.
Last set, Lisicki was playing Sharapova a bit by pitching some slow balls when Maria was braced for major impact. While Lisicki does win her first service game of the second set, her serve was less effective as Sharapova adjusted to the tactic.
Sharapova goes up a break! I would say this is just meeting expectations again, but she started up 40-0 and allowed Lisicki just one point before taking the game. That's a good game, I'm happy about that one. I'm not so much looking for excitement and big plays in this match as for confidence and consistent play. When Sharapova was younger, I'd often have to cringe before she made easy hits because of her tendency to CRUSHINATE everything and chalk up inordinate numbers of unforced errors. Now, at age 24, that's less of a concern. She still has a power-play style, but I can trust her to make easy shots, hard shots, tricky shots, and just about everything else at this point, really.
Maria had a winner called out and I think I raised my racket to challenge about as quick as she did. Sure enough, it's a winner for the Russian.
As Sharapova holds serve to go up 5-2 in the second set, let me say that I figured on Lisicki being a very strong opponent, and she is. She is making very quality shots, and this is a true battle. If the whole match continues in this fashion, the lady who wins will have much reason to be proud. As a bonus, the winner will move on to face a severe underdog, an unranked player who somehow ousted Serena Williams earlier today.
Winning the set on a extra break from 5-2 AD-40 was above and beyond. Now I'm impressed. And while I have respect for Lisicki's game, I'm starting to build a grudge against her for yelling "Come On!" in modo Mariae. Lisicki also slipped a bit and gave away some points in that last game with double faults, and Sharapova was happy to take them. We're level now at one set apiece.
The added benefit of winning a set against the serve is that Maria now gets to serve to open the third set.
Now tied 1 all in the third set. I'm not looking for fireworks here, just continued strong play. One break is enough to win the match.
Some questionable serves help Maria dig herself a hole, down 15-40 in her own service game, and she speaks a few words to the umpire in frustration when a ball of hers that landed totally inside the line (not even touching it!) is called out by the linesman, forcing a replay of a point she had surely won when the call was immediately overturned by the umpire. This is the third time this match we've had such a poor call quickly overturned, and it is disruptive to both players.
That same game went all the way to Deuce #6, and I crapped my pants about four and a half times before Sharapova finally won it. Like I said, whoever wins this match should be proud. Maria showed more signs of frustration, but they only show in between points and never affect her strokes during points. This is another one of those changes that has come with her age. A few years less mature, Maria used to play with volatility when she was high on adrenaline. Now it all works to her advantage, if it affects her ability at all.
No breaks so far as we move to 3-2 Sharapova in the third set. At this point I'm starting to feel the looming sudden death vibe of the final games. Once you're this far in, you don't have much time to recover from a break. If we make it all the way to 4-4, it's going to feel a lot like sudden death, because whoever wins a break will have a mountainous advantage.
SHARAPOVA BREAKS! 4-2! Man, I would be throwing such a fist pump if I weren't in a Control Room with dozens of mostly German physicists moving around behind me, you don't even know.
We're two hours into the match now as we go to deuce on Maria's serve, and neither player looks like they're any less than 100% physically.
Lisicki had real chances in that game but did not convert. A timely ace was crucial in lifting Maria to take the game, and she now leads the set 5-2 as the serve passes to the other side of the court.
Lisicki's double fault gives Sharapova a match point!
...And Lisicki forces the backhand error. Okay, back to deuce. My heart will just be beating faster for the rest of the match.
Holy crap, how did we get to Deuce #5 already? Lisicki takes two points in a row at last and closes out the game, passing the serve back to Maria who is still within inches of taking this match.
Maria follows up on a weak return of her second serve to power away a winner. 15-0. I feel it coming, this is the game.
Lisicki handles a second serve better this time. 15-15.
Let.
Forehand a little long for the court, unforced error. 15-30.
Lisicki pops the ball WAY up in the air four times in a long point that goes Maria's way. 30 all. I'm getting the trembles.
Lisicki's close ball called out. 40-30. MATCH POINT.
No return! It's a winner for Maria Sharapova! A well fought battle on both sides, but the Russian's the winner! All smiles as she heads to the sideline. Ekaterina Makarova is next in the quarters, see you in two days.