Li vs Sharapova Istanbul 2011 Highlights

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Sports

[Ramitdown92]

The great thing about Li is that she is like a counter-puncher but an extremely offensive one. It's like she has the perfect mix of offence and defence. You can't hit through Li Na, hence, on her way to the RG title she beat Azarenka, Kvitova and Sharapova - all big hitters - even Clijsters was making the same mistake in AO finals, she was trying to hit through her and was losing by a set and a break. Until she wised up. The only problem is Li plays either really good, or really bad :(

[CrimsonKing589051]

@AFCompany

Correct, she hits it right down the middle and is left on the defensive in rallies. And my view is that is because she has to focus so much energy on just getting the serve in. It used to be a weapon to win free points with for her and it's not, so she can't dictate terms in a service rally. I remember in the Wimbledon semi against Sabine, she would drop her serve but break back almost with ease, so receiving is not a problem.

[AFCompany]

@CrimsonKing589051 I also think she was a little slow in this match because her ankle was still tender. But I don't want to take anything away from Li Na who played great and capitalized on Maria's mistakes. 

[AFCompany]

@CrimsonKing589051 If you notice Maria does well on clay now because she is forced to dictate play and move the ball around the court. She carried that same game over to grass which is why she did so well at wimbledon. If you watch her matches she is hitting angles to open up the court. But its like as soon as she gets to hard court the surface is so fast she just chooses to rip the ball up the middle. She can beat some lower ranked players like that but not the top girls on tour.

[AFCompany]

@CrimsonKing589051 It's not Sharapova's serve at all. It use to be but she has gotten control of it. She has patches of double faults but her serve as a whole has been very consistant since Indian Wells. Its not like li na is hitting winners off it. Its her groundstroke game. Maria doesn't dictate play the way she use to. She hits all her shots hard up the middle ride back to the opponent, giving them control of the point. She has got to be moving the ball around on her terms not the opponents.

[CrimsonKing589051]

It's her serve. She can't control it and is forced to focus on getting in, making her serve and her whole game predictable. All opponents like Li have to do is use all that power directed at them and move the ball around effectively. It's tough to see Sharapova winning a slam now unless she can do something about her serve.

[kimskis]

poor Maria...that damn ankle roll cost her the Year End #1 ranking and opportunity to win YEC again...I mean losjng to her punching bag Stosur in straights - WTF

[TennisFan713]

@congoline1 its maria, one of the most competitive women out there on the tour right now, the second she gets a green light that she's good to play she's gonna take it :P but i agree with the rest, she should have rested a bit more. Its like she says, you gotta give yourself chances to win, and thats what she did, even though it wasn't the best idea.

[congoline1]

@tennisboy2612 maybe she jus wanted to try the ankle out also maybe she jus wanted the experience again of playing the year end championships

[titaniumfeather]

Why did Maria play? Her ankle wasn't holding and she shouldn't have rushed her recovery. Can't wait to see her in 2012 though.