19/05/2012 19:29 CEST - WTA Tour

Is Masha
the favourite?

Maria Sharapova (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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Tomorrows final will pit the queen of Paris, Na Li, against the defending champion, Maria Sharapova at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome. In the semifinal the Russian defeated Angelique Kerber without too much trouble. The German left-hander dreamt of making the upset and reach the final like Martinez Sanchez, but her tennis was often unpredictable lacking a long term strategy during the match producing just 9 winners for 26 unforced errors.

Most of all she faced a determined Maria Sharapova who has now learned how to move on clay. The Siberian made three times as many winners in the tie (27) and one unforced error less than Kerber (25). In both sets Masha broke early to go 2-0 ahead, only to return the break immediately, eventually the Siberian was able to accelerate and pull away. In the first set after Sharapova lost her serve, she broke again with a perfect forehand down the line from the left go 4-2 ahead. Maria was able to control most of the backhand rallies, continuously moving the German out of the court, ending the rallies with a down the line backhand in an open court as she did on the set point that gave her the first set 6-3.

Kerber's coach, Torben Beltz, came to her aid during the break, but not knowing German all I could understand was “forehand”.

In the second set Sharapova served ahead 2 games to love after Kerber lost her serve with a double fault. The Siberian returned the favour making a couple of uncharacteristic forehand mistakes in the longest game of the match (16 points). But the German was betrayed by her own forehand in the fifth game, allowing Masha to break again with a cross court winner and from then on the Russian controlled the match until the end. Masha won the match 6-3 6-4 with a forehand winner.

Sharapova has won 6 of the 10 matches played against Na Li. She won the first five encounters and the last one in Miami earlier this year. They have played twice before on clay, always at the French Open. Sharapova won in 2009 and Na Li won last years semifinal. Nine out of ten matches ended in straight sets just like the last six women's finals in Rome. Amelie Mauresmo was the last player to win in three sets defeating Patty Schnyder 2-6 6-3 6-4 in 2005.

“It feel good coming back to the place where you have accomplished so much and to be in the position to regain that position and I am happy how I have progressed”, Maria said in the press conference. She also defended Serena's decision to retire before her semifinal, “its tough and in terms of Serena playing 6 matches in 8 days and only one day off coming here and its difficult to play and when you have 5 or 6 matches because she didn't have a bye and it doesn't matter who it is .... it is challenging and so in a week or so with the French Open. I was in her position also here and it’s a tough position because you get yourself into that position and you just want to be healthy.”

She recalled briefly last years Roland Garros semifinal against Na Li, “it was a tough one and it was a great tournament for her and her first Grand Slam and a tough match for me and she .... I have had tough times against her ... lost twice and then I won the last time in Miami but I lost a couple before that and was happy to turn things around. Tomorrow is a new match and hope to play like Miami.”

Masha confirmed that she is moving much better than before, “the most important thing is physically felling stronger on the court and handling longer rallies and I recover better. Saving myself and being able to recover better ..... I have improved a lot in that department.” She then spoke about her new coach Thomas Hogstedt, ”it is difficult to change for me having heard the same voices for so long and I was young and practicing at home and Michael was coaching for over 7 years and I had a similar voice for so long its great and it comes to your brain a little bit different and Thomas changed something in my game and I thing it was more encouragement and he came in and believed in me and tried to get me to the top and it was ...... It was tough when you know something worked in the past and you let go.”

Alessandro Mastroluca