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Category Archives: Maria Sharapova

“The Greatest Roadtrip In Sports” moves to Stanford

1 Comment Posted by footfaulter on July 25, 2011

After last week’s Atlanta, the US Open Series really kicks off now with WTA Stanford and the likes of Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams headlining things. I tried and tried to avoid writing about this tournament until it would have been shameful to do so, and it appears we have reached that point. So here we go. And why was I avoiding it, you ask? Because of the damn draw, that’s why.

Just look at it.

I mean as soon as the words left Maria’s mouth that she wanted to face Serena this summer, it was obvious that unseededandloomingrena was going to be plopped straight into Sharapova’s section. And lo and behold, they’re due to meet in the quarters.

Elsewhere, while top-seeded Azarenka has a ‘catwalk’ all the way to the semis and Ivanovic and Bartoli are seeded to play in the quarterfinals, that bottom half is filled to the brim with good players. Poor Mashka down to meet Julia Goerges and should she get through that, she’ll have to meet up with Serena again. Hantuchova will most likely be up against Masha S in the second round, while doubles partners Sam and Sabine are due to face-off in the second round. Tough.

Looks like quite the DMC.

But objectively speaking, it doesn’t really matter. This early in the US Open series, it’s just about staying fit and getting enough quality matchplay and practice in the heat ahead of the two big ones and then the final slam of the year. There’s no doubt they’ll get that in Stanford, and hopefully we’ll get a bit of quality tennis too.

(pictures via sedna90377)

Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Stanford, WTA

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova at the ESPYs: A New Chapter?

3 Comments Posted by footfaulter on July 14, 2011

Remember back when Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova were supposedly sworn enemies? Well those days are apparently long gone as the ~~lovely couple~~ pair chatted together and posed for the cameras during last night’s ESPY awards.

It’s quite funny looking at these two together now. Ever since Sharapova’s shock victory over Serena at Wimbledon in 2004, they really have always been built up as bitter rivals. Serena has, of course, had her problems with Maria, but that was clearly more down to the insane media hype that followed the 2004 Wimbledon. In contrast to Serena being, well, Serena; Maria was their tall, young and blonde ‘Great White Hope’ who so many people believed and hoped would end the Williams’ reign at the top.

But 7 years on, and the pair have barely even faced off against each other since their 2004 Wimbledon final. There have been no ‘incidents’ between them to cause bad blood between the two, unlike Serena’s other rivalries with the likes of Justine Henin and Jennifer Capriati, and there certainly seems to be a lot of mutual respect between them. But with Maria finally back to relevance and Serena recently returning from her various serious illnesses and injuries, maybe we’ll finally witness that great rivalry that so many people were excited about at the beginning of Sharapova’s career? Let’s hope so.

Maria Sharapova, Pictures, Serena Williams, WTA

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