(no subject)
This Saturday, while I am in an airplane somewhere over the northern Atlantic Ocean, Maria Sharapova will play in the women's finals match at the 2012 French Open. She will win. When I land in Boston, I'll check the score and find out that she has won, and I'll rejoice.
By winning her semifinal match 6-3 6-3 over Petra Kvitova, Sharapova secured enough WTA points from this tournament to move her up to #1 in the world rankings. That is badass. She has previously been world #1, before her major surgery in 2008. Any doubters must now concede that her comeback is complete; and while I would've said that a year or so ago, this weekend's grand slam championship (completing her collection of one finals victory at each of the four majors) will drive the point home.
Sharapova's opponent is Sara Errani, whose rapid ascent in the last year makes her likely the best Italian player there is. Errani is also competing in the finals of the women's doubles draw this week, and so has an opportunity to claim both the singles and doubles championships on consecutive days at Roland Garros. She won't. I can't say that her three-set match today gives Sharapova an incremental advantage, or even that the doubles match will distract her and deny her rest time, because those things just won't matter. It will come down to two women on the court, their abilities, their wills, and their rackets.
Honestly, I've been cheering for Errani throughout the tournament. I'm happy to see her do so well: her play is fantastic. There is nobody I'd rather see make it as far as runner up. But for Maria, this is the day and the time. Her consistency is at an all-time high and her service game is unstoppable. The sportsmanship and dedication that I've always admired, her spirit of a champion that brings her back even when she falls behind in the match, make her the very special tennis player she has been throughout her career. She is more dominant right now than she ever was pre-injury.
I have no doubts. I cannot wait to see the final score.
By winning her semifinal match 6-3 6-3 over Petra Kvitova, Sharapova secured enough WTA points from this tournament to move her up to #1 in the world rankings. That is badass. She has previously been world #1, before her major surgery in 2008. Any doubters must now concede that her comeback is complete; and while I would've said that a year or so ago, this weekend's grand slam championship (completing her collection of one finals victory at each of the four majors) will drive the point home.
Sharapova's opponent is Sara Errani, whose rapid ascent in the last year makes her likely the best Italian player there is. Errani is also competing in the finals of the women's doubles draw this week, and so has an opportunity to claim both the singles and doubles championships on consecutive days at Roland Garros. She won't. I can't say that her three-set match today gives Sharapova an incremental advantage, or even that the doubles match will distract her and deny her rest time, because those things just won't matter. It will come down to two women on the court, their abilities, their wills, and their rackets.
Honestly, I've been cheering for Errani throughout the tournament. I'm happy to see her do so well: her play is fantastic. There is nobody I'd rather see make it as far as runner up. But for Maria, this is the day and the time. Her consistency is at an all-time high and her service game is unstoppable. The sportsmanship and dedication that I've always admired, her spirit of a champion that brings her back even when she falls behind in the match, make her the very special tennis player she has been throughout her career. She is more dominant right now than she ever was pre-injury.
I have no doubts. I cannot wait to see the final score.