TENNIS US OPEN – Maria Sharapova started off slow but shifted into second gear for a routing of her fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko. Sharapova came back from 2-4 hole to reel off 10 straights games for a 6-4 6-0 victory in an hour and a half. From New York, Cordell Hackshaw
US Open: All the interviews, results, draws and OoP
At the beginning for last year’s summer, Maria Kirilenko was ranked 10 in the world. Now today, she is the world’s number 113. A combination of poor play and injuries has contributed to her rapid descent in the ranking. However, she is not a player to be overlooked. She earlier this summer knocked out Sloane Stephens, then ranked in the top 20, at Wimbledon. This matchup against Maria Sharapova (5) had the potential for opening night dramatic as the last time, Sharapova (5) lost in the 1st round of a major was to Kirilenko at the 2010 Australian Open. Sharapova knew not to slight her compatriot and showed off her aggressive brand of tennis in full force for a comprehensive victory 6-4 6-0 in just 90 minutes.
Last year, Sharapova was absent from the US Open but she was well prepared this year for the opening night session on Arthur Ashe, dressed in a black dress and pink shoes. Sharapova opened the match a bit sluggish, having to dig herself out of a 0-30 hole and then failing to convert two break points on Kirilenko’s serve. They remained on serve till the 5th game when Kirilenko stepped up her intensity to break for a 3-2 lead. In an effort to consolidate the break, Kirilenko had to fight hard to get to 4-2 as Sharapova looked determined to break back immediately. However, Kirilenko held serve but it was no easy feat as she was up triple game points then suddenly found herself at deuce. Looking back, this was the turning point in the match. Through the first 6 games, Kirilenko reminded us how she got in the top 10 last year and then for the rest of the match, she showed why she is outside the top 100.
Facing a deficit at 2-4, Sharapova lifted her game to a level where she was virtually unplayable against Kirilenko. Every advantage Kirilenko gained, Sharapova quickly imposed herself on the court and wrest control away from her. Sharapova broke back for 4-4 and never looked back. She closed out the set 6-4 in just 53 minutes. In the 2nd set, Sharapova continued her winning streak by offering up the bagel to Kirilenko 6-0 in 37 minutes. Kirilenko had no answers for the Sharapova game and feeling the pressure from the Russian number 1, Kirilenko double faulted on match point. Kirilenko in several of those games where she was broken, actually had game points. However, the relentlessness of Sharapova proved to be too much for her to hold serve. Sharapova had this to say of the match, “I thought there [were] a few times where I could have broken her in the beginning of the match. But I think she started off playing well and solid. Despite not taking those opportunities in a couple of her service games, I felt pretty good, especially towards the end of the match.”
Sharapova had a good serving day with 71% 1st serves in and winning 76% of those points. Kirilenko on the other hand was getting a similarly high percentage of 1st serves in but was only able to win 48% of the points. She had nothing on court to hurt Sharapova who only faced that lone break point in the 1st set. Sharapova had 15 winners to 18 errors whereas Kirilenko had 12 winners and near double the amount on errors at 23. Sharapova also spoke of her overall game particularly the transition from the clay courts where she has been most successful the past few years. “I think maintaining the good balance between being aggressive but not overdoing it. I always play my best when I’m moving, feel like I’m hitting my shot, moving forward, taking the next one out of the air or hitting an approach shot. Sometimes when you try to create those opportunities you go for a little bit more than you want to. So it’s about finding that good range.” Sharapova will play Alexandra Dulgheru in the 2nd round.
