This sums it up, this latest great write up from Steve:

"Most important, Sharapova was there, still in it, and ready for the 17-year to come down to earth, which is exactly what happened—Garcia hit the earth with a thid that could be heard around Paris. The turnaround from 1-4 down—Sharapova, unbelievably, would win the final 11 games—was mostly the result of Garcia’s nosedive. She began to double fault. She began to miss routine shots that she had been cracking for winners."

It was all about Garcia going down primarily the reason the result happened today.

The media is so desperate to be first. Like with Oudin. She beat Sharapova and Dementieva. She's a star!
How about we watch to see if Garcia can win a Tier 5?
No? Just watch her win a few games against Sharapova, like Oudin did, and she's a star.
And no one remembers all these hype articles when the player is 22 years old and ranked 78

I obviously haven't seen the match; I wouldn't watch screaming women play even if it was the last match .

When it comes to women's tennis, there is no future, there i sonly present, and until that happens, I'll be hoping Henin re-unretires....even in my 4th dimension.

Congrats Steve on a great article. Like you I fell tempted to compare the attitudes of both Sharapova and Clijsters, so different today, even though Kim was in a far better position to win the match. Sharapova was willing to adjust while Kim did not show that resolve. After her good performance in Rome it seems that Maria really wants to to well in Paris and she feels she can therefore she came back into the match when at least for me at that point it was quite unlikely, but as you said Maria gave herself a chance to come back.

Also, Garcia showed more promise and poise those games up until 4-1 in that set that I just haven't seen from the likes of Cornet, or has vanished away from Rezai. French tennis deserves a champion from the female side for their prize tournament in the best of fashions.

Tommy,

It's the way she won those games, at 17, with how women's tennis has changed so fast for teenagers in just the last 2 or 3 years, that made it so impressive.

Hey, if you think it's interesting to be courtside, consider what it's like watching the scoreline on your computer at work. Don't get me wrong, all things considered I'd rather be in Paris, but in situations like this you can almost feel the momentum of a the oncoming train that is a champion's resurgence, as you see the match teeter back into their direction.

Great post.

LOL skip. I was in a car during most of the live action today, but ESPN never met a taped match it didn't like - they're showing it right now. I acted as my own "spoiler" though, and now wish I hadn't checked the scores before turning on the TV.

This is why you gotta love Sharapova and Serena. They'll NEVER give up. They really are in a different league in terms of mental toughness.

Mark, I don't know how some people do, but Serena (and Venus, from the prior days) are the ones in a different league than anyone else.

I agree with Mark. I couldn't help compare two of my favorite players today, CLijsters and Sharapova. Kim's performance was just disgusting. For a woman of her experience, natural talent and technical skill to collapse like that is just unacceptable. More importantly, even ONE MATCH AGO she was nervous closing it out, and she didn't even learn from that, never mind the rest of her career. SLOW DOWN AND BREATH KIM!!

I will never understand her - she's the best defender in the history of the game and one of the best athletes on tour, so why does she feel in trouble that she needs to go for absurd winners early in a rally?

Any local club player could tell you that when up 5-2, mathc point, feeling nervous, slow down, stay steady, and work the point til you can use your best shot. For an athlete of her calibre, who made a French Open final TEN YEARS AGO, to continue such a bone headed pattern of play when feeling tight, is unacceptable.

Sharapova isn't anywhere near as complete a player as Kim is, but she is matched only by Serena in her iron determination to fight, play smart, and claw her way back into matches.

This tournament was Kim's to lose, just as was the Aussie Open. THere's simply no one as athletic, who strikes the ball as cleanly and potently, in the WTA. In Melbourne she held it together. Here she blew it. THe woman is a complete enigma to me.

GO MASHA FTW!

Garcia, indeed, in spite of the loss, is a glimpse of the future. She can be the face of greatness if she puts in the good work. Maria, even with the injuries she went through, she may have lost some steps because of them, still has the same hunger she had when she was 17. She still plays with the same rabid passion as if she just started playing pro-ball yesterday and hadn't won any slam. These passion and hunger should inspire Garcia to work hard, be the future and embrace greatness.

Northernboy,

Serena is a better competitor than Maria, and this tournament WAS NEVRE Kim's to lose, don't be silly.

She had no preparation on clay, and you are just saving the excuses for how Sharapova was tighting under the pressure today, getting strategically out thought and out toughed by the 17 year old from France. She was pressing in that 3-1 game in the 2nd set.

Just watching the reply of the match, it is amazing how Garcia's return of serve just flat out frazzled Sharapova mentality up until 4-1. Sharapova didn't even think to throw a serve to her body.

I just question her tactically, especially if she gets to either Azarenka or, worse for her, Kvitova, who has potential ice in her veins on her serve. Her tactics need to improve.

That is why Maria I a champion she did not give up and she found a way to win! I hope Maria goes all the way to give her a chance to lift the trophy

MashaFan sure is scared of Kvitova, assuming Azarenka would get thru when Kvitova has Azarenka's number.

Either way, Azarenka has the mental edge still on Sharapova (she woud have never won Rome had Azarenka not retired in my opinion), and if Wozniacki makes it that far, or Schiavone even, they two won't be mentally frizzed at all by her 'mentally war tactics'.

But hey, Sharapova legions shouldn't discount Radwanska nor Wickmayer's chances to beat her in the 4th round. The pressure will all be on the Shriester in that one, and those two are playing with the house money.

BTW Steve,

why don't you write an article on your walk "home" after a hard day's work.
It would be nice to feel the air of warm Parisian spring night and smell the food from the restaurants or cafes you walk past, or maybe see a belle dame sans merci walk pasty you and give you a wink...

Those big second serves from Maria in that 4-2 game was what changed things around! Garcia has REAL potential and hopefully we will see more of this young girl.

Today was the loudest that I heard Sharapova grunting. Specially in the 3rd set. It was long too, almost until Garcia hit the ball you still hear Sharapova screaming.

Its beyond me how the allow this unnecessary screaming.

"In the beginning, I could ignore who my opponent was." That is why you were winning. And you should have kept right on ignoring who she USED to be. And you might have kept on winning. This is what separates the men from the boys. The ability to not give a darn who you're playing, where you're at and to keep going with the game that gave her a set and a 4-1 lead. She began to play defensive tennis after going for broke with a strong offensive game for a set and a half. You think Kim's opponent gave a darn who she was playing today? She smelled blood and took her out. Garcia take note!!! You were playing a player who hasn't made it into the semi finals of a GS in three a half years, you weren't playing the 04 Sharapova. Great opportunity missed by remembering who you thought you were playing. You think somebody like Kvitova will care who she used to be????

ESPN's Pam Shriver on the turning point in the match, "Garcia has now switch from playing offensive to defensive tennis."

Big deal, you know what I meant.

Masha Fan, you missed the point that Garcia lost this match not because she lacked the game to beat Sharapova, but she lacked the nerve. Fear. You think someone like Petkovic or Kvitova will have the same fear?? I don't!

BTW, a big congrats to Sharapova, I have very little pity for a player like Garcia who lets fear of an opponent or who an opponent used to be rule them.

And Caroline Garcia - Take note - You were playing a player who've made it back to the top ten after a severe injury and surgery - and who RECENTLY has crushed the #1 in the world ON CLAY - her least favorable surface

You were playing a player who's known for her fighting spirit AND her exceptional tennis skills - and you must have suffered from her heavy shots in the end - You also must have seen the burning passion in your opponents eyes - There is no shame in loosing a match when being a set and 4-1 up when you play Maria Sharapova - Higher ranked players than you have crumbled in front of our stunned eyes in spite of the fact that they were in the lead

Not to write off C Garcia, but there is a long road from 188 to 60 to top 20 to top 10.

Many were singing her praises, but why? She hasn't done anything yet... There have been hundreds of would've, should've could've who also seemed promising at 18 then disappeared.

Remember Maria was in the Wimby QF at 16, Kvitova beat a #1 at 18 and so on.

Question is does Caroline Garcia have what it takes to be a player? No one knows. And today didn't prove anything one way or the other.

SAMANTHA ELIN said: " ESPN's Pam Shriver on the turning point in the match, "Garcia has now switch from playing offensive to defensive tennis."

Can you really talk about a "turning point" when you're a set and 4-2 games up? - To me it looks more like a MELT DOWN - no offense Caroline Garcia - you did a great match after all - But are there still some who really believe that Caroline will be the #1 in the world any time soon only cause Murray and Tignor said so? - Come on - Get real!! - *lol*

"deserve" doesn't have anything to do with winning or losing

Nole winning RG this year is a foregone conclusion.

http://imageshack.us/m/829/7664/djokovicrg2011winner.jpg

SAMANTHA ELIN said: "You think someone like Petkovic or Kvitova will have the same fear?? I don't!"

And yet - Didn't I see a devastated Petkovic go down by the hands of Masha in their last meeting? - I don't know about wonder woman Kvitova - sure - she could be a Masha slayer - but I wouldn't count on it - *lol* - Masha is an INTELLIGENT player - who can adapt - even if it can take a while - Like for example when she finally defeated Kim in San Diego for the first time and there after has defeated Kim 3 times in their last 4 meetings - I can only think of one player who's been better than- and always has been a problem for Masha - and that's Serena Williams - Although I'm sure that Masha would have found a way to defeat even Serena - assuming that both were healthy and in reasonable form

Nole winning RG this year is a foregone conclusion.

http://imageshack.us/m/829/7664/djokovicrg2011winner.jpg

"I'm sure that Masha would have found a way to defeat even Serena." Mashafan, Sharapova H2H against Serena is 2-7 and she hasn't beat her in SEVEN years. Thus in SEVEN years, she hasn't "found a say to defeat her." The fact don't support this so I'm not sure how you're "sure" of it. Does Sharapova even believe what you're saying. At last years Wimbledon after losing to Serena, she was asked about their rivalry by reporters. Her responds, "What rivalry, I have to win some." Does that sound like a player who thinks she can beat Serena? Sure does to me!! Sorry but there is NOTHING that support your conclusion.

Mashafan, question for you, Is 7 years a long period of time not to beat a player???? Is a 2-7 H2H against a player a poor or good one??? Reality check!!!

Typo, should read found a way not say.

Sharapova is a great player, three slams in her early twenties, but she isn't even close to Serena and that may explain the poor H2H she has against her. Serena is simply a superior player, and this may explain why the seven year gap without a win. Every aspect of Serena's game is better than Sharapova, her serve, power and ability to hit winners.

On another thread I dissed Martina and Mary Carillo for jumping on the Garcia bandwagon so early, but ESPN, Murray, and now you are all saying th same thing. I hope she is an emerging new star, they're always fun to watch, but as you write, Maria's storyline today is compelling as well, and a testament to how mentally challenging tennis is. Rafa is an exponent of the never say die MO as well, his comeback in the third, while not as close to utter disaster, as Maria's was, was just as remarkable.

After this close call, Maria should make the semifinals with a very good chance of completing a career Slam

And let me save you the trouble Mashafan, If Maria didn't have her shoulder injury she would have beat Serena. The problem with this excuse is that many of her loses occurred before the shoulder problem.

Master Ace said it right, she SHOULD reach the semifinals. The pressure is all on her, where she hasn't been to the latter stages of a Grand Slam in a while. No excuses.

Northernboy, give Kimmie a break. She hadn't played a match on clay in years, and any matches at all for months. I once read somewhere that the more talented the player is, the harder it is for them to adjust when their game is 'off.' They're just not used to it. You just have learn to gut it out, that's one of the reasons I think Federer is so great; he mastered his own talent.

Patrick, if Sharapova faces a healthy Vika in the semi, who would you pick?

you're all freaks on this site, gonna carry on reading the articles but not your petty comments:)

Anybody else get the feeling that James probably read every comment here??? LOL!!!

Samantha,

MashafAN wants to forget but it pains him, that in 2007 Aussie Open, everyone had crown Sharapova the new dominant queen of the sport, especially how she outnerved a then still tight Clijsters in the semifinal.

Everyone had claimed it was her time, and she was all healthy, playing her best tennis.

Then all of a sudden, bam.......6-1, 6-2, at the hands of a note even fully fit Serena, and it was wrap city.

Alright, so I'm as big a Maria fan as anyone, but I'll admit that she did not play very well at all today. What I saw is that at 1-4 in the second set Caroline Garcia got nervous. For the first time in the match she realized who she was playing and where she was playing. This is normal, especially for a 17 year old in only her 2nd grand slam tournament. Therefore, the errors started coming and the match started going away from her. However, there is also Maria to credit. Not I'm not saying she just became a wonderful display of tennis, because all she really did was tighten up her game and cut her errors in half from the second set and to 1/3 of the errors she committed in the first. And sometimes that's all it takes. For someone with as big a game as Maria and one as aggressive as Maria's the winning formula is sometimes just cutting the errors back. So maybe not spectacular play from Maria, but she did keep her cool and kept her mental toughness up.
This got me thinking about why it is so hard to beat players like Maria and Serena. Love them or hate them, these two are two of the hardest people to beat on tour and it is because of both their imposing physical games and their mental fortitude. If these two are having off days physically, which does happen from time to time they still always have their mental toughness. That in itself is a mountain for any player to climb. Sometimes the opponent can bring it hard enough to win, sometimes they can't. But either way, Serena and Maria are gonna make it dang hard to beat them. Maria's 3-set match record this year (8-0) is a testament to that fact. So when you combine their mental toughness together with an "on" day physically, no wonder it takes practically a miracle to beat them.
Finally, I wish everyone would stop comparing the teenagers of these times to the teenagers of Maria's time. Like I said, I'm the biggest Maria fan around, but even I realize the difference in 1) the physical strength of the women's game now compared to 7 years ago, and 2) the fact that teenagers are hardly allowed to play on the pro circuit in these ages. When Maria won wimbledon, as she said in her interview today, she had been on the tour for 2 years already. This was Garcia's SECOND tour level tourney. No wonder she couldn't handle the pressure. Most anyone would be able to.
So that's all I got for now. Sorry for the rant. Hope everyone is well!!!! :)

sry. that's most anyone would NOT be able to.

Haha.

Wozniacki, Cibulkova and Azarenka sure proved how it isn't as hard to beat Maria as it is Serena, not in the same book, especially now.

Sharapova, AGAIN, does not have a Plan C on court, gets too stubborn, and things she can always out intimidate and out tough someone by being brash and in your face.

Once players besides Venus and Serena match the intensity, Sharapova presses and gets tight because she plays with so much tension and doesn't think.

But MashaFan is scared to admit that, of course.

@SAMANTHA ELIN
I admit that Serena is the greater champ who's won more slams than Masha probably ever can - No doubt about it - I've never even doubt that fact - But - Serena isn't here for the moment - and the question is - will she ever be again?

What I'm saying is - that Masha and Kim Clijsters are the main champs and slam winners right now - They've proven them selves in BIG tournaments on several occasions - Theyve shown not only exceptional tennis skills - but also determination - confidence and fighting spirit when it counts - Something your Petkovic - Wozniacki - Kvitova - Azarenka or who ever you can come up with of the CURRENT top 10 tennis players only can dream about - We've seen it with the former #1 Dinara Safina - and with the current #1 Wozniacki or other top 10 players - Great tennis players all of them - no doubt about that - But they're not even close to Masha's and/or Kim's fabulous careers - To be talented and posses great tennis skills IS NOT ALWAYS ENOUGH! - Except for Masha and Kim - NONE of these top 10 players have been able to win a slam so far - Surely that should tell you something? - Right? - Maybe one of these players eventually can win this FO (or some other slam) - I'm not saying that they can't - but with Kim gone - Masha is the only one still in the mix here in Paris I rather bet my last €€ to win the FO - Can you say the same about your favorite(s)?

@MashaFan Sharapova is my favorite player too but I think you are a bit over the top in your description of her. Garcia played very good tennis today until Maria started turning it around. In saying this I think it is far too early to start saying Garcia is the next big thing.A few wins or in this case a fairly close loss does not a champion make. All you need to do is look back at Melanie Oudin to see that. She might turn into something but it is way too early to pass judgement on that. @ Samantha I don't agree with your somewhat has been kind of attitude towards Sharapova. She just finished kicking Wozniacki's ass (that's who you support judging by your name) so clearly she still has the goods. Do I think Maria can win this tournament. Sure its possible but I think it is more likely that Azarenka takes it. She is on fire right now and is a very tough player to beat. Being on the losing side of many of her matches with Sharapova I can attest to this. The perfect way to summarize today's match is any good player can put a lead together but it takes a great player to come back from that and win the match.

Kim, "I started doubting myself." Rus, "I believed I could win it." NO FEAR, I love her attitude.

Adam, Caro beat her two of their last three matches, so to put it in your word, Caro beat her assets.

MashaFan also forgets,

Venus is BETTER than her too, even inconsistent Venus. She stared her down and beat her in the crucial matches, especially at Wimbledon and even San diego.

Oh Northerboy, let me address something you said here at Pete's blog in the CC Day 5 thread:
"Let's get real Jerell - Serena of course is every bit as mentally tough as Maria. But Venus? She's choked away big matches (particularly against Clijsters at the USO) a plenty. Venus is the most physically gifted tennis player ever to play the game. To me she is no better mentally than Clijsters."

Are you kidding me, which how Venus has had comebacks, like 2005 Wimbledon, after beating Sharapova at her best, and then Davenport in that final? Are you kidding me? Which how many more big wins Venus has had?

And Venus hasn't choked matches like Sharapova has. The only match Venus really choked was Clijsters '05 US Open, which unlike Sharapova last year in Cincinnati against Kim, she DIDN'THAVE match points.

The Shriester has choked many more matches over the course of her career more than Venus had at that age.

Who gives a flying circus about the Williams sisters? They aren't playing and haven't played in a long time.. Last time either won was almost a year ago. If and when they come back their place will be determiend by their play.

Until then Maria the Russian One is in the hunt and playing well of late. She can beat anyone left in the draw. Only Maria can beat Maria at this point.

"Only Maria can beat Maria at this point. Really? Didn't Vika just recently beat Sharapova in a final? Wasn't she up an entire set before going out to injury? The answer to these questions is yes. Caro Mundane, you are telling us that Vika playing at her best can't beat Sharapova? Well Ok, I believe it. Sure I do!!!

Caro Mundane, if only Maria can beat Maria, how did Vika beat her recently?? Hmmmm!

@MashaFan Maybe I phrased that wrong. What I was trying to say was she isn't the player she was before the injury. I wish she was but she simply isn't at least not at this point. She often struggles with the serve and once the serve goes it is basically game over for her most days. I want her to win as much as you do but I just have a different opinion about how far she is able to go at this point.

And Wozniacki WHIMPED her those two times, at the US Open where everyone thought Sharapova would hit her off the court except me and Samantha, and look what happen.

When Wozniacki serves well and hits her spots on serve, and mixes it up, it fools Sharapova badly like it did in Indian Wells and the US Open showed.

Wozniazki fears NO ONE on tour, and that even includes Serena, because that's her friend, and Venus, who she met as a kid. She has great competitive fire.

And Wozniacki played poor in Rome. She served terribly, and yet, still was a few points different from really taking control and winning that match.

Anyway, let's get back to Garcia......

The score in the final was 6-1, 6-4 so please explain how Sharapova beat herself in this match? No, Vika beat her in straights. Caro beat her in straight set in two recent matches, so again, how did she beat herself? Petkovic beat her in straights at the AO, so how did she beat herself?

MashaFan,

Then explain how she got tight when she had set points on Serena at Wimbledon last year, only for the pressure to get to her, and Serena won that tiebreak when she didn't play well.

Serena let her back into that first set with a bad service game, and Sharapova wanted to stay around, but she didn't fully BELIEVE in her heart that she could beat Serena again. She hasn't beaten Serena in 6 at the time, and now 7 years.

But hey, your insane loyal fan devotion sure does blind you to actual facts. I really do hope Shriester is playing you, because man, you fight for her with irrational love all the time. It truly is hilarious.

The most realistic Sharapova fan on here is Adam because he is looking at not what he wants, but what is reality. She doesn't beat herself, others have beat her and quite easily in straight sets. Reality check!!!

@Samantha She beat herself because she lost more due to her errors than the play of her oppponents

Mashafan, Petkovic beat her at the AO, so how does that not "really count". It is a GS right? Vika beat her at a premier one event, 6-1, 6-4, so why does that "not count". Since when are these not big events?? Go figure!!!

Oh, I guess it Adam, when she loses, it is because she beats herself. Oh, they're not really playing well, she is just playing poorly. Thanks, now I understand. Wow!!!

I guess the Sony Ericsson Open, a big final considered the "5th Slam", where Sharapova was the favorite going into that final, and desperate to get revenge on Azarenka for losing in Stanford (and saying "she was going to get her revenge" in the trophy ceremony last summer, just real creepy stuff), I guess that "doesn't really count."

I mean, I guess that means nothing at all, is not worth anything in the long run. Yup, just "ignore" that final in which Azarenka out thought here and matched her intensity, and comprehensively beat her.

Samantha,

It only counts for MashaFan when Shriester wins, LOL.

And Petkovic started coming back in Miami, but got patchy too much in the 2nd set after a great first set.

LOL Jerell, they really believe this nonsense! If Caro loses, it is because her opponent was better, period.

The double fault totals if I remember correctly were quite high for Maria in those matches which brings me back to the point on how she struggles on serve. Her opponents played well but her errors had a lot to do with it.

I'm sure it does Adam. This girl needs to stop beating herself in all those matches. LOL!

Sam,

What gets me is how Wozniacki served arguably her worst match of the spring against Sharapova. She served better in the losses to Goerges.

Everything time Wozniacki get the break advantage to open up in Rome, she started missing spots and making usually routine errors, getting behind in games. Coupled with the fact that Sharapova was desperate to beat her, and there you go.

But I guess MashaFan will ignore common sense again and begin another screed about how much of a 'moron' I am, as well as insulting you too Samantha, haha.

Jerell, I don't care about the insults, I think the Sharapova fans are funny, they actually believe that she needs to play poorly for good players like Vika, Caro and others to beat her.

Mashafan, you are LOL.Please keep posting. PLEASE!

I see I'm not going to win this argument with you Sam so I'll leave it at that. Must say its been fun though. Haven't had a good chat about sports with anyone since hockey season ended.

Simply put, Kvitova had the WAY bigger win in Madrid than Sharapova did in Rome.

Kvitova had to beat six players, including the one that Sharapova can't beat on clay in Cibulkova, handled Na Li impressively, and was just ice cold cool in the final against Azarenka, a player who has Sharapova's number right now with five straight set wins over here.

Here the reality of the WTA. There is NO player in the WTA who is unstoppable, all of them are fully capable of being beat, not because they're playing poorly but because their opponent is better on that given day. And that includes Kim, Caro, Vika and Maria "she beats herself with errors" Sharapova. That is reality!

MashaFan,

You are such a terrible fan, because you would know that SHE has played well since her "comeback", especially last YEAR.

-She played well last year at the French, but still couldn't beat Henin.

-She played well last year at Wimbledon, but DIDN'T believe that she can beat Serena anymore unless Serena is REALLY off.

-She played great in Cincinnati, beat Bartoli and Pavlychencova, was dominating Clijsters in the final, had two match points even, and BLEW THE MATCH. She choked in Cincinnati last year.

-She was playing well at the Open, people thought she was still 2nd favorite to Clijsters to win the title, dominated Capra in the 3rd Round, complete opposite of how she played Oudin the year before in the same round. Then she bumped into Wozniacki, and Woz just comprehensively out thought and out tough her in routine, convincing fashion.

-That lost to Wozniacki made Sharapova QUIT the rest of the year. She didn't even think to play the fall because her confidence was so crushed. She never thought she would EVER lose to Wozniacki, the supposed "Pusher", and she not only lose, but got THUMPED.

But your rose color glasses don't want you to admit that pain.

And Mashafan being a fan of a player doesn't mean you can't have a more realistic view of that player's ability. When Maria beat Caro, it was because she was the better player at that time. No excuses, the better player won. I have said many times that I DON'T believe Caro is the best player in the game.

Also Mashafan, you keep calling Jerell a "moron". Name calling isn't allow and disagreeing with your opinions on Sharapova doesn't make him a "moron". He has a right to his opinion without your personal insults.

MashaFan, I guess keeps forgetting that Sharapova was outplayed badly, on arguably her worst surface, in the final, against Na Li, the new and improved Na Li, and Binghampton last year.

Sharapova was so mad that she, you know, STOLE her coach form her in the offseason, focusing more on that instead of playing the rest of the year, with her coach being classless to her by just giving Na Li an email. Just below the belt stuff.

I guess that truth hurts, and MashaFan will keep on silly throwing the word "MORON" around and not have a serious discussion.

I know, the truth may hurt, but if you just take a few deep breaths. everything will be okay MashaFan.

Mashafan, does calling Jerell names make your opinion more accurate? Don't you lose an argument when you begin name calling??

No matter if you are a completely different player that what you was in the past, clearly, if you have a 'bad record' against Sharapova, or she beat you more, MashaFan will mention that and say Sharapova is clearly better now, LOL.

The logic is truly amazing. But that's what irrational rabid fans do!

Samantha,

Thanks, but trying to reason with people who don't want to be rational is a hard thing to do.

Mashafan, I would appreciate if you could answer the question I ask you at my previous post. Do you lose an argument when you begin name calling?? And does name calling make your opinion right?

Can we please all stop talking about how it's Maria's double faults and serve that are killing her. For her past three tournaments (Madrid, Rome, FO so far) Maria has been serving pretty well in my opinion. 6 DFs in today's match is the most she's had in a while, and that's not that bad all things considering. I think Maria's main problem when she plays is when her flat groundies go off course. This leaves her with little else to do. And of course it's easy for us to say "she needs a plan B", but there really isn't that opportunity. Because when Maria pulls off the pace a bit she gets pushed around and starts a pushing battle she doesn't want to get involved in. So she just has to keep trying with what she's got. Yes I admit this makes her limited, but does it not also make the fact that she has won so much a bit more impressive.
As far as the whole Vika thing, I'll admit also that Vika has Maria's number right now. Having beat Maria their past 2 or 3 times (I'm not including Rome because the match never finished) I'd say Vika is the player who has Maria's # the most. That being said, in Rome it is not as if Vika was blowing her off the court. Maria was hanging in and I think would've had a chance to win the match (we'll never know though since Vika had to retire so it's pointless arguing).
In the Semis can we all just accept that Maria BEAT Caroline. Yes Caroline beat Maria in USO '10, and dominated her in Cali this year, but fact is Maria did beat Caroline in Rome. And she did it playing great tennis, painting lines and playing solid overall. Not saying that Caroline is afraid of Maria or that Maria has Caroline's number, but Maria did legitly beat Caroline and did it somewhat handily.
As for FO, I honestly don't know who will win. I would love to see Maria complete the career slam, but she'll seriously have to pick it up in the coming rounds. The rest of it is pretty open as Kvitova has lost to some suspect people this year, Vika has retired from 3 of her last 6 tourneys, and no one other than Sam and Francesca are performing outstanding on the other side of the draw, and neither of those two showed me anything spectacular the rest of the clay season. So I say we just wait and round by round we'll see who will take home the crown.

MashaFan, we BOTH said she is a major contender for the title. LOL......Read, even though I question your reading skills very much.

In fact, if she doesn't win this tournament, then it will be a failure, clearly.

Mashafan, can Maria win it? Absolutely. Are there players such as Vika who can beat her, simply because they're better, nothing to do with her errors? Absolutely. I have NEVER said Maria couldn't win it. I simply said she is a wait and see. I'm done because I think the name calling is uncalled for.

Thank you for answering my question

I think I jinxed this young lady by rooting for her too hard! j/k But, I was so hoping she'd pull out the win and "shut up" Shriekapova!

Mashafan, um, hate?

Did none of those events happen in 2010? Haha, keep on being mad that I just state my justified opinion, with, you know, TRUTH, lol.

This was a pretty entertaining match to watch. Garcia was playing her heart out, and did a really good job. Sure maria had her share of errors and service issues, but that first set was won by garcia, not lost by maria.

The fans, some of who were borderline hostile to maria, really got under her skin. Her gesture at the end probably didn't win her any friends, but I liked it. When someone plays well, you congratulate them regardless of who you're rooting for. That's how tennis works. Jeering when someone wins a match is bush league.

Moron this and Moron that.

Don't you have other insult words? You are starting to get so boring, YAWN, where I believe that maybe your lone word......"Moron."

Anyway, I love exceptional performances that result in still being down 6-3, 4-1 to a girl who is playing only her third Grand Slam match. Hilarious, LOL

Clay,

The history between the French fans and Maria is quite contentious, especially what happen in 08 against Safina.

Seriously, I have watched 1-2 play and I cannot conclude even remotely that Garcia is a new future #1 - all I see is Sharapova making way too many mistakes...

Jerrell,

While I feel that name calling should be left out of this, you have to admit that Masha did have to show mental fortitude to make it through this match. Yes, it is somewhat sad (especially as a Maria fan) that she had to have mental fortitude in a match that I thought should've been an easy straight setter, but it does lend to her mental toughness. And yes she's had disappointing easy losses to Vika and Caroline recently, and last year in all the slams, but she is still a top player. Not unbeatable, and not the best, but still up there.

Btw, I don't think I've read, who do you root for? Just curious?

And for some reason I don't think the French have liked Maria since the FO in '07. In the fourth round that year she came back from match points to beat Patty Schnyder to win and the french crowd jeered her. Then again in '08 they openly cheered against her in her match against Safina. I feel this was unnecessary and her gesture and comments about the french are somewhat what they deserved. But that is in the past. The french have also cheered for Maria such as in '09 when she was just coming back. They simply like an underdog or a home-town favorite, something Maria understands. I just think there is a nicer way they could do it than openly jeering and booing.

"Not unbeatable, and not the best, but still up there." Ditto and very realistic on where Sharapova is now in the game. Sharapova if she were to retire tomorrow would go down at the BEST Russian player and cleary as an outstanding and gifted player. The 04 Sharapova was really something special to watch, boy she could hit those lines and never go over and that serve was superb.

maria's screaming grates but i like her and greatly admire her guts and her *amazing* mental stamina. she carves her own path as well and writes her own narrative, which she should be entitled to do. no one else has the right to do it for you. good for her. she's not a follower.

Samantha,

I agree. I loved the Maria of '04. However, I still believe she had far less power than she does now. My favorite Maria was Maria of '06 and the one at the beginning of '08.

Maria4ever, the one I see today is a FAR less server and her shots are less accurate, now they're more likely to go over the line then hit it and she is definetely LESS powerful. ESPN once did a comparion and it showed that after the shoulder surgery, the pace of her shot had been reduced. The 04-08 Sharapova had the power to over power players who can now handle her power. There was a time when she could have easily over power player like Cibulkova and Petkovic. Now they handle her power well. Not bothered by it. She isn't what she used to be because shoulder injuries tend to be permenent and they tend to effect every aspect of your game. She is clearly not what she used to be, although still a top player.

Samantha, I didn't mean to say her shots are more powerful than they were in '08. I just meant the whole pace of the game IMO is a lot faster than it was in '04. Yes, I agree that her shots have slowed down since surgery. However, I feel they are improving in speed (I think she had her fastest serve last summer) and as the commentators were talking on Tuesday, after a shoulder surgery a lot of movement above the head loses feeling. So it is understandable that she lost some of the serve. As far as other players handling her better, I think it's a combo of the loss of power and an addition of physical strength in the game on the part of all the women. Back in '04, it was Maria and the Willamses who hit hard. Now everyone does, with a few exceptions such as Wozniacki who outsmarts and uses finesse. Even wozniazki has some power though. so I just think it' naturally easier to absorb her pace. But, IMHO I think if she could ever learn to sustain the form that she had through most of rome, she has a great chance at regaining Slam glory and making herself a steady member of the top 5 again.

I think guys, Sharapova hits just as hard, if not, harder than she did back then. There is just simply more players now who can hit a hard ball and as well, where it is all about who is steady and keeps the ball between the lines.

Sharapova is serving bigger in MPH's than she did in 04, 06, and even 08. She hit serves today against Garcia that were 110 plus in the MPH department. She is still fierce on the forehand side, and can still drive on the backhand side just a much. She is bigger and stronger than she was in '04, and she can still play tenacious defense.

"Patrick, if Sharapova faces a healthy Vika in the semi, who would you pick?"

Samantha Elin,
Sorry so late but I did pick Victoria to win the French Open.

samanta elin
Since when Aza or Caro became better players than Maria ???

How many Slams they are won combine ? I think 0...ha ha ha.
How old both of them :
Wozi almost 21 Aza almost 22 (yes they both still young)
But Maria won Wimby when she was just 17 y.o.

Let's wait for 5-6 more days and we will see what is going to happens
I think Kuzya gonna crush chubby Dane
and Aza gonna retire (probably sooner than later)...

Tennis it's a mind game in first place and Maria is much stronger mentally than both of them ....
Go Maria!