Women's HL - 2008 AO QF MS v JH

[janjan55555]

I don't know if you blind MASHA fans notice it, but Henin's game was actually broken in 2008!!!! U no longer saw the depth/angle/EXTREME versatility of 2007, she became a 'vulnerable' player and YES Maria played well but Henin wasn't the same just look at the Error/Winner ration and u know enough! Kudos to Maria, but I will NOT accept ppl calling Henin 2nd class. Henin 2007 would actually KILL Maria here ONLY because of her versatility alone, Maria only had RAW power.

[Bragofan]

No wonder Henin retired that year. She was still tired from runnin' around this match XD

[jolanza2006]

no angles, no depth, henin's game was broken.... almost unbelievable. kudos to sharapova for taking advantage in every point

[janjan55555]

@jolanza2006 Look How centralized and totally ATYPICAL Henin plays =((( it actually makes me sad how a top world class player suddenly 'lost' her edge that year. Sad year for Henin...

[Impulsensx]

Also, seeing this made me realize that Henin only missed one AO ('09), yet at this year's AO they kept talking like she'd been gone for 5 years or more.

[Impulsensx]

I remember this being the only Sharapova match I watched that year and she was on fire, Henin could barely get the ball by her. I just wish Serena hadn't had that off day in the quarterfinals and lost to Jankovic so I could've seen the Serena-Sharapova semi-final showdown I'd been expecting.

[Erick92BC]

@Impulsensx I know!! that would have been an awsome match

[milot1masha]

30 winners from Maria :D

[vozas]

In this match it wasn't only the power, because yeah, I've never seen Maria hit as hard as this except for the Wimbledon final. It's the depth and placement of her shots. I won't even bother pointing out the seconds because there are too many jaw droppers here. EVERYTHING was going in this day. It's probably the match of her career, together with the Wimby final.

[abercro800]

@oobalavivida, you must be kidding me right? at this ao open she didnt lose a damn set! in 2007, on the other hand, she was almost knocked out in the first round and was beaten by serena easily in the final! so c'mon this is by far the best performance MASHA has displayed!

[oobalavivida]

I think Maria's 2007 performance was much better, is it because of the change of surface? I think the green one was faster?

[AFCompany]

Sharapova steamed through everyone in the draw she was meant to win. It was her tournament there is nothing Justine could have done. She didn't drop any sets and had one at least one set 6-0 in every match until the final. Everyone has that 1 grandslam where they dominate. Henin 2007 US Open, Sharapova 2008 AO, Venus 2008 Wimbledon, Ivanovic 2008 French, Serena 2010 Wimbledon. And hopefully Venus or Sharapova for 2010 US Open.

[Bragofan]

@AFCompany I agree with ya but would like to point out Ivanovic was pushed to three sets in one match. Haha I was hoping for the same thing at the U.S. Open but Wozzie and Clijsters played dreamkiller that day... ! _ !

[zaireanboy]

Henin was always on the run.

[miksakw]

1:54..BEST DROPSHOT

[wozniacki15]

justine lost this match because maria was on fire, but also because it seemed like she tried to outhit maria which is never a good idea

[mashafun]

BTW.. when henin was a dominant number one, i wasn't a fan of her game, and her overally... but now when she is gone from pro tennis i miss her ;)

[mashafun]

last game of the first set.... i think one of the best games in women's tennis i have ever seen.

[Sharapova2009]

in my opinion this was one of marias best matches ever

[sheremeti]

MASHA da Best:D

[jackhurst85]

is it just me or is the ball just too heavy nowadays?

[whu945402]

love henin forever！

[mcdreamysteamysmarty]

one of my favorite match. EVER.

[Bragofan]

@mcdreamysteamysmarty ^.^ This was the match I fell in love with Sharapova, and tennis! It was an epiphany. So much power and aggression and precision tied together with a ribbon of inner focus and tranquility.

[pofulover]

hmmm Justine seems more like she's just getting the ball back over the net.

[irfanulhaq1]

justine was no where near her best there otherwise she would have won. her shots were too short and allowed maria to dominate

[danyur]

You cant really say that tbh cos Maria just didn't allow Justine to play. Besides Maria steamed through the whole draw and was just too good.

[imlazy77]

I agree, i think her performance in Ao was really mediocre. I am a huge Juju fan, but like Carlos said that time, she was playing not to win, but playing to not lose...

I miss Justine, WTA has never been the same ever since she left. :(

[loveneo89]

now i know why maria won!

it's becuase she dominated the points, even if she's on the defensive, her return shots are just too heavy and justine can't totally control it!

and the determination and will and the unscared attitude of sharapova hits justine's being, like justine can't find ways to defeat maria!

justine's shots always lands in the middle, can't really find the lines...

maria on the other hand plays unbelievably, she's too fast and anticipative in this match!, very pacey!

[3timeMVPNash]

I liked Henin so much. I wish she was still playing.

Sharapova needs to stop screaming, seriously.

[rambaldioo]

wo wo wooooooo

greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

[dxms33]

Maria is the best :D