Maria Sharapova Wins 2nd Major Title

nws,yahoo.com ^ | 9/9/06 | Howard Fendrich

[beyond the sea]

NEW YORK - Maria Sharapova began the U.S. Open with as much buzz about her sponsorships as her strokes, as much talk about her getups as her game.

She's long insisted she's more about substance than style, though, and now she owns a second Grand Slam title to prove it.

Better on the biggest points all night, the third-seeded Sharapova beat No. 2 Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4 in the U.S. Open final Saturday to add a follow-up championship to her breakthrough title at Wimbledon in 2004.

"I experienced it two years ago, and I knew that I wasn't done," Sharapova said. "I had a lot more in me."

What Sharapova had on this night was a lot more force on nearly every shot, from groundstrokes to serves to returns. She faced only one break point all match, broke Henin-Hardenne three times, and compiled a 20-15 edge in winners.

"She's been a real fighter tonight," said Henin-Hardenne, who would have moved up to No. 1 with a victory. "The better player won tonight."

Quite a concession from the Belgian, who leads the tour this season in matches won (54), Grand Slam matches won (25) and tournament titles (five). She was the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1997 to reach a year's four major finals.

"She didn't give me a lot of opportunities," Henin-Hardenne said.

[maggief]

Roddick could get his ass handed to him.

I'll enjoy the match.

Think Roddick will wear Sharapova's little black bow for luck? ;-D

[beyond the sea]

You're illustrating your British ignorance.

[raybbr]

Why don't high level tennis players ever resort to serving (every once in a while) underhanded like he does on the commercial.

Maybe they would lose their appearance money???????

[beyond the sea]

LOL....... Furyk is the man ........ and I hear you on that routine of his. It's a trip.

David Feherty describing Jim's odd swing: "Looks like a one-armed man trying to kill a snake in a telephone booth."

ROFL!

[beyond the sea]

You drinkin' already over there, by the way???

;-)

[evad]

Funny how they all wind up looking alike in the hitting zone.

[beyond the sea]

"little black bow"

LOL!

I'm not sure about that "dating" thing with them ........... but I'd wear her underwear on my head if she wanted me to.......... and her sports bra over my shirt.

;-)

[jjbrouwer]

Rose will own him! Hey, this bodes well for the Ryder Cup. If one of the worst European players can dominate Furyk and co, then think what the people who are actually eligible for the Ryder Cup will do.

[beyond the sea]

LOL ... are you series?

[jjbrouwer]

'I'd wear her underwear on my head if she wanted me to.......... and her sports bra over my shirt.'

Is there a 'parade' in your town this week?

[MHGinTN]

JJ lives in New York fro quite some time now, if memory serves.

[beyond the sea]

Really............... just think.... if the public never knew when one of these slick/sneaky underhanded serves was going to occur, don't you think it may add to the viewership?

I swear ....... that kind of serve..... disguised well before it is delivered...... is nothing but a total success.

AND........... while you're thinking about unusual new tennis possibilities ....... tell me why no player has never tried to play TWO forehands...... a left-handed forehand and a back-handed forehand (there is mostly always time to switch hands with the racquet between returns). There would be no need for a backhand.

Hmmmm.......

;-)

[beyond the sea]

LOL....... EXACTLY.... you sound like a PLAYER!!!!

[beyond the sea]

Yeh.... you guys have a real great chance to pull that off. To tell you the truth ..... I hope you do.

I like your style of golf much more than our pampered players play here.

Your game requires much more imagination. Good luck in the Ryder.

[NinoFan]

The dating rumor is just that... a rumor.

I'm personally rooting for Roddick.

[beyond the sea]

LOL............. jj, you're the greatest.

Btw, Rose tees off in about 55 minutes. I can already see the apple in his throat as he is ready to choke one more time.

;-)

[beyond the sea]

JJ lives in New York fro quite some time now, if memory serves.

Yoi..... is that true???

[NinoFan]

Sampras was boring to watch? OK.... You and I have two very different definitions of "boring", but as they in today's slang, "That cool."

[beyond the sea]

I'm personally rooting for Roddick.

Jimmy Connors has a better chance of beating Federer than Roddick.

:-)

Roddick is doing well........ but he's playing a genius.

[beyond the sea]

Sampras was boring to watch? OK.... You and I have two very different definitions of "boring"

--- I agree........... I like a "boring" economy moving along at a boring 4% growth rate.

;-)