Posted on 09/10/2006 1:32:15 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Not really.... Ms. Sharapova actually wins tournaments.
Hingis attempted an underhand serve to Graf in the 1999 French final, match point.
They booed her. It was an ugly match.
Plus she's not really that good-looking. Kounrikova is a supermodel who's a world-class tennis player. Sharapova is a world champion tennis player who's not a bull-dyke. The networks are trying to sell her as comparable looks-wise to Anna, because there are ratings in it for them. Like when they claimed the Sex in the City girls are hot. Some people buy into it. If you saw Sharapova walking down the street in NY, and she wasn't famous, you'd forget about her on the next block. Not so for Kournikova.
Whatever works is good. Remember how the media commented on the two-handed backhand and Graf's (?) grunting.
I think this could be a new trend when people see it works.
It is tough to get real innovation in tennis (other than the clothing). Nice to see.
Also, as always, how cool is it that Sharapova looks the look and walks the walk (she actually plays tennis and WINS).
I used to play a game called Minton. But I wasn't very good.
I played Bad Minton (badaboom).
I think you will get LOTS of people who disagree with you. I think Sharapova is better looking (she doesn't have the sunken eyes than Anna K has).
Anna wears it well and that is what people confuse with inherent good looks (although she ain't bad).
Hey to each his own, but I can think of at least two things missing from Sharapova that Kournikova has plenty of.
Kournekova measurements: 32B - 24 - 34 (5' 8")
Sharapova measurements: 34-24-34 (6'2")
So it is a bit of an illusion since Anna is shorter.
Both sets of numbers are admirable.
I don't want to know where you got those numbers.
If my hands could talk.... ;)
Thank you for that.
Well then... and I only ask because I'm curious...... why do you suppose it isn't done more often or at all? It would certainly cause the returner to rush forward, only to be able to return the ball weakly. I don't get it.
****
It's easy on the knees and other joints.
:-)
I used to play on clay a lot about 35 years ago and it was sweet.
LOL
Just pour the asphalt ..............
"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.............. Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."
****
I'd like to read about that.
If you do the physics on that.... the underhanded freethrow is the best way to go.... just so "uncool".
You see.... on the underhanded freethrow the ball's trajectory travels to a point where the highest point of the shot is barely above the rim. Thus, there is less of a chance of hard bounces off the rim.
Yoi.
;-)
I'm serious ..... why do you think they booed her? Is it crass to try to win? Is an underhanded serve against the rules? I wonder.
Should baseball fans BOO a pitcher who throws a changeup to the plate????
I guess you're not old enough o remember Rip Sewell and his ephus pitch ........LOL!!!
****
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/yr1944as.shtml
LOL
Yeah..it's just that it's sooooo slooooow..
and the players look like they've come out of a coal mine pit when they're done.
ROFL... where is THE BARF ALERT???
See posts # 15, 18, and 19...... then get back to me!!!!
Right on. I wish I were about 40 years younger and about four inches taller.
:-)
Just a refresher for you ...... posts 15, 18, and 19.
Beeeeautiful!!!!
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