Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Sharapova fails in bid to reach No. 1
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-15 10:01

Maria Sharapova failed once again in her bid to become No. 1. Sharapova lost to eighth-seeded Patty Schnyder 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals of the Italian Open on Saturday.

In the title match Sunday, Schnyder will face defending champion Amelie Mauresmo, who reached her fifth consecutive Italian Open final with a 6-2, 6-4 win over sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva.


Russia's Maria Sharapova in action against Switzerland's Patty Schnyder during the semifinals of the women's Italian Open tennis tournament at Rome's Foro Italico, Saturday, May 14, 2005. Schnyder beat Sharapova 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. [AP]
The top-seeded Sharapova could have overtaken Lindsay Davenport for the No. 1 world ranking if she had won this $1.3 million clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which starts May 23.

Sharapova also had a chance to take the top spot at the German Open last week but lost to eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in the quarterfinals.

"I've said it before, there's no rush," Sharapova said of becoming No. 1. "I'm not disappointed. I'd rather play better at a Grand Slam. I'm just going to work on things next week and hopefully be fresh and ready for Roland Garros."

Schnyder entered the tournament off a semifinal appearance at the German Open, where she lost to eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne. She improved to 12-4 on clay this season.

"For me it was also about ranking. I can be in the top 10 again. For me, that's special," said Schnyder, who is ranked 13th but reached No. 8 in 1999.

Schnyder believes she was able to beat Sharapova because she is better on clay.

"She deserves to be No. 1, she's a great champion," Schnyder said of Sharapova. "I just took a chance on a clay court. I think it's her weakest surface. I played a great game. I was the dominant player. I move better on a clay court than she does."

The 6-foot Sharapova overpowered her shorter Swiss opponent in the first set with her big serve and groundstrokes, producing 11 winners to Schnyder's four.

But in the second set, Schnyder began to vary her shots as Sharapova lost her rhythm slightly and started making more unforced errors.

Schnyder began the third set by breaking serve and Sharapova's game quickly unraveled.

"I didn't think I was patient enough in the third set. I think she was more ready for the third set," Sharapova said.

Schnyder used her drop shot effectively to set up easy passing shots and moved Sharapova out of her comfort zone with well-angled shots that the Russian was forced to track down.

Sharapova made 40 unforced errors to Schnyder's 24.

"She's a very different player than most players on tour," Sharapova said. "She has sort of an old-style sort of game and moves really, really well. You have to be really, really patient."

The crowd helped Schnyder, who comes from the same city — Basel — as top-ranked men's player Roger Federer.

"I was really surprised how they supported me. I guess they like my game," said Schnyder, who had never advanced past the semifinals in eight previous appearances in Rome.

The second-seeded Mauresmo also beat Zvonareva in the semifinals en route to her first Italian Open title last year.

"It's unbelievable here in Rome. I always feel good and play well and the crowd has gotten to know me. Now I have to use this as a reference point for Paris," said Mauresmo, a Frenchwoman who has never made it past the quarterfinals of her home Grand Slam.

Mauresmo cruised through the first set in just 35 minutes. She won her first four matches here without dropping a set.

"It's good physically to get to the final like this," she said. "You never know what can happen in the final — it can be a very long match."

Mauresmo knew she would have a hard time against Schnyder.

"Patty's been playing some unbelievable tennis on clay in 2005," Mauresmo said.



Super Sonics edge Spurs 92-91
Heat beat Wizards 102-95
Sharapova VS Pierce
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

China, US prepare for presidents' visits this year

 

   
 

Moscow urged to probe police-Chinese clash

 

   
 

China slams US textile quotas

 

   
 

South Korea, North Korea to meet next week

 

   
 

Soldier describes wiring Iraq abuse victim

 

   
 

Central bank dismisses rate rumour

 

   
  Sharapova fails in bid to reach No. 1
   
  Bruised thigh sidelines Shaq for game 4
   
  Liu Xiang to auction medal shoes for $1.2M
   
  Glazer increases Manchester United stake
   
  Suns take 2-1 lead in second-round series
   
  Sharapova advances to Italian Open Semis
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Sharapova advances to Italian Open Semis
   
Sharapova VS Pierce
   
Sharapova beats Pierce at Italian Cup
   
Sharapova reaches last 16
   
Sharapova to miss Russia's Fed Cup opener
   
Sharapova beat Henin
   
Sharapova ends Henin-Hardenne's comeback
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 天天看片天天干| 欧美乱人伦中文在线观看不卡 | 欧美黑人XXXX高潮猛交| 动漫人物差差差动漫网站| 一级片免费网站| 日韩人妻不卡一区二区三区 | 国产青草亚洲香蕉精品久久| 一区二区三区国产最好的精华液| 日日婷婷夜日日天干| 亚洲精品福利网站| 香蕉视频网站在线观看| 国产精品嫩草影院在线| 99RE6在线视频精品免费| 好吊妞欧美视频免费| 三男挺进一女爽爽爽视频| 日本午夜理伦三级在线观看| 亚洲第一精品福利| 男女性色大片免费网站| 国产又大又粗又长免费视频| bt天堂网www天堂在线观看| 日韩视频一区二区三区| 人妻免费久久久久久久了| 青青青青青免精品视频| 国产爆乳无码一区二区麻豆| 2023悦平台今天最近新闻| 国色天香论坛视频高清在线| eeuss鲁片一区二区三区| 日本簧片在线观看| 亚洲欧洲综合在线| 精品国产污污免费网站入口| 国产v亚洲v天堂a无码| 怡红院在线观看视频| 国产草草影院ccyycom| 91精品啪在线观看国产18| 国精产品自偷自偷综合下载| 99视频在线免费| 无码任你躁久久久久久老妇| 久久午夜无码鲁丝片午夜精品 | 无翼乌全彩绅士知可子无遮挡| 久久国产热视频| 日韩三级免费观看|