Maria Sharapova's game in this Australian Open has been quite good. Not overwhelming. Not dominant. But she's hitting well. Mentally, though, she's on the highest level.
Last night, Sharapova outlasted second-seeded Petra Kvitova in three sets, avenging the straight-set loss she suffered last summer in the Wimbledon final against Kvitova. Sharapova now takes on Victoria Azarenka in the Aussie final, after Azarenka earned a three-set win over Kim Clijsters in the other semi.
Sharapova's power had been enough to carry her through the early stages of the tournament, even if she wasn't as sharp as she can be. What she's lacked in precision, however, she's more than made up for in superior toughness and will to win. Last night against Kvitova, she put both pieces together.
The fourth-seeded Sharapova did look dominant in winning the opening set against Kvitova, before losing a bit of her sharpness and losing the second set. If it had been a different player, I would have thought Sharapova was in trouble when the match reached a third set. But for all the attention Sharapova gets for those long, lovely legs of hers, she should get more attention for being so damn determined.
Now, in the final against No. 2 seed Azarenka, Sharapova faces a player who is remarkably similar to herself. Same power, same firey competitiveness, same loud shrieks and grunts.
So if you like leggy ladies moaning and groaning, tune in. Or, if you just like great, spirited tennis.
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