Sharapova through to final

http://www.ausopen.com/

Maria Sharapova wins her all-Russian semifinal against Ekaterina Makarova to reach her fourth Australian Open final with a 6-3 6-2 victory.
By Michael Beattie | Thursday, 29 January, 2015

 

Maria Sharapova is through to her fourth Australian Open final after beating fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 6-2 in the first of Thursday’s semifinals.

The world No.2 will face top seed Serena Williams or 19-year-old Madison Keys in Saturday’s final after overcoming her Russian compatriot in one hour, 27 minutes.

Sharapova had her problems on serve, dropping in seven double faults, but after a lengthy opening game moved 4-1 up in the first set.

Left-hander Makarova battled back to 4-3 but could not win the points that mattered. Both players had two break points in the second set, the Grand Slam semifinal debutant spurning her chances as 2008 champion Sharapova grabbed both to secure the win.

Sharapova Into 10th Grand Slam Final
http://www.wtatennis.com/

An on-song Maria Sharapova stormed past Ekaterina Makarova to reach the 10th Grand Slam final of her career, only the third active player to hit that milestone.

Published January 29, 2015 12:14

MELBOURNE, Australia - Maria Sharapova came out strong and only got stronger as the match went on, storming past Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets in the first semifinal of the Australian Open.

The No.2-seeded Sharapova had won all five of their previous meetings and showed no mercy this time either, jumping out to early 3-0 and 4-1 leads and, after the No.10-seeded Makarova broke back and cut the lead to 4-3, Sharapova went on a run of six straight games to build a hefty 6-3, 4-0 lead.

The two went into a holding pattern from there until Sharapova had the victory, 6-3, 6-2.

"It's really special," Sharapova said in her post-match interview. "You work really hard for these two weeks and fight through some tough matches, some tough situations, and you come from behind in some of them - for me really behind in one of them, saving two match points in the second round."

That second round scare - where she saved those two match points to edge No.150-ranked Russian qualifier Alexandra Panova - seems like a distant memory for the now-Australian Open finalist.

"It wasn't my best performance in that match, but I just fought through it, and I came out of that match knowing I could raise my level," Sharapova commented. "After I got out of that one I felt like I was given a second chance at this tournament - I don't know why, but I'll take my chances now."

Sharapova is now through to the 10th Grand Slam final of her illustrious career, going 5-4 in her first nine - the five titles came at Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008 and the French Open in 2012 and 2014, and the runner-up finishes came at the Australian Open in 2007 (falling to Serena Williams), Wimbledon in 2011 (falling to Petra Kvitova), the Australian Open in 2012 (falling to Victoria Azarenka) and the French Open in 2013 (falling to Williams).

Only two other active players have reached 10 or more Grand Slam finals - the Williams sisters.