How do you solve a problem like Maria?

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In a battle of 18-year-old millionaires, Sania Mirza lost to Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-1, in what seemed like the world’s shortest match at just 59 minutes. Ouch. She couldn’t get her first serve in and relied on a soft second serve. Sharapova slashed that serve down the line for winners over and over, like a boxer who’s found an opponent’s weakness and just keeps riding it.

Mirza committed twice as many unforced errors as Sharapova. She didn’t do enough cross-court shots, sticking with lots of straight, fastball returns; Sharapova moved her all over the court. On the plus side, Mirza hit harder than Sharapova, who let lots of fast returns by her, even those within forehand range.

The uncle-commentator tried to put a positive spin on Sania’s showing after the match; meanwhile, I rocked back and forth: ‘ouch, Elliot…’ CBS showed a dorky fan sign straight out of Bride and Prejudice: ‘Sania: our precious Indian jewel.’ And man, the Sharapova squeal is annoying.

>> Watch the match
(196 MB DivX; you need a BitTorrent downloader: Windows, Mac)

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13 thoughts on “How do you solve a problem like Maria?”

  1. well, as the TV commentators said that if she improves her service, she should have a very good future.

    Even to a non-expert like me, it was very clear that her service game was quite pathetic. I am sure that nervousness must have played some part.

  2. I’ll be at the US Open later this week.

    They say that no banners/signs are allowed, but people are clearly sneaking them in.

    I want to bring some ridiculous signs too.

    Any thoughts on what I should do?

  4. manish- the sharipova squeal? i think you’re being too kind. it’s more like a call of the wild… if i were sania i would have been distracted out there too…

    but her game was rather weak, i couldn’t handle her erratic serving and her shots that went crazy wide… i ended up shutting off the match after the first set. but i think there’s something to be said for the fact that she made it to R4, and as people have been saying, with some proper training she’ll be someone to look out for.

  5. Sania was great out of the gate… and with time she will be a top-twenty player, no doubt. Right now, Maria is just a better player, but I wonder how much of that is sheer talent and how much is access to the best coaches/courts/shoes, etc.

  7. here’s what the beeb said,

    “…Mirza matched Sharapova for power off the ground but her serve let her down.

    Despite the scoreline Sharapova had to hit top gear to reach the last eight – …

  8. mutiny-centric signs are not something i’d want if i had the chance to showcase one at this event. i’d much rather have one saying, john 3:16

  9. NYC Mutineers can head to Madison Square Park (23& Mad) where Amex is sponsoring a free outdoor stadium-seating viewing party of all the US Open matches, live.

  10. mutiny-centric signs are not something i’d want if i had the chance to showcase one at this event. i’d much rather have one saying, john 3:16

    I think austin 3:16 would be more appropriate for this event.

  12. ‘Sania: our precious Indian jewel.Â’ I was waving my “I wanna have yo’ secular babiez” signage (on premium oaktag), but sadly no screenshot. Forty-two in the rankings but number one in my heart.

  13. Sania she is a real big shit, overhyped, she is just pathetic. ppl woh have been supporting sania i think are being fool to compare her with big players like serena it wud take sania atleast a decade to get serena’s 1% of game.