Sharapova Serves a Bombshell
Sharapova Serves a Bombshell
Saturday, June 28, 2003
Maria Sharapova became only the fourth wild card in Wimbledon history to
reach the last 16 of the women's singles when she defeated Jelena Dokic today.
The 16-year-old Russian, based in the United States, blew kisses to all
sides of No.1 Court and made a prayer sign with her hands after she overcame
the 11th seed from Yugoslavia, 6-4, 6-4, in 77 minutes.
She has revealed that nerves are a condition that afflict other people
and she showed it as she drove herself to victory with a few "c'mons" and a
shaking left fist.
Dokic, when ranked 129, sent shocks around the world by becoming the
lowest-ranked player to beat a No.1 when she thrashed Martina Hingis at The
Championships in 1999 when Sharapova's age. And she would have been forgiven
for casting her mind back to the moment that established her name to help
inspire her.
But it is Sharapova who is now in the business of making Wimbledon
history as she emulated wild cards Zina Garrison (1982), fellow American
Anne Smith (1985) and Britain's Sam Smith (1998).
She came out swinging with her huge forehand and double-backhands honed
from her years at the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida. That academy has a
big success rate, with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles
and Mary Pierce among its graduates.
It looks as though Sharapova, world-ranked 91, will follow them on
today's fearless display of power, athleticism and, particularly on the big
points, nerve.
Sharapova said after the match: "When I come into a tournament, I expect
to win. That's my philosophy. I can't go into it thinking I'm going to get my
ass kicked so I might as well leave."She was pleased to be playing on a show
court, saying: "I loved it. It was unbelievable. When I stepped on court,
I was like 'I'm not going to give her a chance today. I want to be the winner
on this court, right here, this moment'.
"It's definitely a big win in my career."
Dokic, who as had an erratic year, felt the shock was not comparable to
her triumph against Hingis. She said: "I played one of the great players in
the game then. Maria didn't have pressure on her but neither did I."
Can she win Wimbledon on her debut? Dokic said: "She's playing well but
she's not favourite." On her own performance, she added: "I had a few chances
with break points but didn't take them."
Written by Mike Donovan
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 218.162.59.36
ALL-RUSSIANS 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
