Sharapova sneaks into Stanford quarters
Former world number one admits she ‘kind of lost it’.
STANFORD:
Second-seed Maria Sharapova reached the quarter-finals of the $721,000 WTA Bank of the West Classic tournament beating Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
Sharapova fought her way through despite 11 double faults, finally advancing after two hours and 12 minutes before admitting she ‘kind of lost it’ in the second set.
“I got away from what I was doing well,” she said. “I was frustrated that I wasn’t able to maintain my form in the second set. It’s still about improving the little things to get more consistent. I’ve had to make some tough choices in the last year but I’m going in the right direction and, little by little, those choices are paying off.”
In another match, France’s Bartoli also advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Canadian Rebecca Marino. Bartoli, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, is trying to reprise her 2009 title run in Stanford as the WTA’s stars gear up for the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year that starts in New York on August 29.
The French enjoyed a first-round bye, as did Victoria Azarenka and Australian Samantha Stosur.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2011.
Second-seed Maria Sharapova reached the quarter-finals of the $721,000 WTA Bank of the West Classic tournament beating Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
Sharapova fought her way through despite 11 double faults, finally advancing after two hours and 12 minutes before admitting she ‘kind of lost it’ in the second set.
“I got away from what I was doing well,” she said. “I was frustrated that I wasn’t able to maintain my form in the second set. It’s still about improving the little things to get more consistent. I’ve had to make some tough choices in the last year but I’m going in the right direction and, little by little, those choices are paying off.”
In another match, France’s Bartoli also advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Canadian Rebecca Marino. Bartoli, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, is trying to reprise her 2009 title run in Stanford as the WTA’s stars gear up for the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year that starts in New York on August 29.
The French enjoyed a first-round bye, as did Victoria Azarenka and Australian Samantha Stosur.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2011.