First-time Grand Slam finalist Petra Kvitova will face former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova in the women's final. We asked Peter Bodo, who's reporting from the All England Club, five questions about the match.
1. How much of an underdog is Kvitova?
I don?t think she?s much of an underdog at all, mainly because, with all due respect to Maria Sharapova, there?s this sense that the Russian is more survivor than ascending or dominant star. That this is a battle between two women who were not seeded to even make the semis (Sharapova was seeded No. 6, Kvitova No. 8) is telling. But at the same time, both women have the bona fides to be in this final; it?s not like a Tsvetana Pironkova or even a wild card like Sabine Lisicki has punched through to the showdown at the summit.
Kvitova is a back-to-back Wimbledon semifinalist, and while Sharapova is a proven finalist (she?s 3-1 in Grand Slam finals), her recent injury problems (this is her first major final since January of 2008, well over three years ago) and that ongoing case of the serving yips plant some question marks in my mind.
The main question concerning Kvitova is how she?ll handle the pressure in her first Grand Slam final, in what is the most hallowed?and therefore, potentially the most intimidating?venue of all. There?s just no way to tell how she?ll react to the moment. I don?t know, you don?t know, she don?t (sic) know.
Today, in her in her pre-final presser, Kvitova said: ?Well, probably I will focus only on the match and not thinking about the title in the Wimbledon. So it will be like normal match, I don't know, like second or third round here. . .It will be hard, for sure, so . . . You know, it's first time for me, so I will (be) enjoying the match. I will see what it will be in the head during the match.?
2. Kvitova's serve can be her biggest weapon, while Sharapova's can be her biggest liability. Who needs to serve better?
Kvitova needs to serve better, although Sharapova will be in deep doo-doo if she starts throwing in handfuls of double faults. In relative terms, though, Kvitova could keep Sharapova at arm?s length with that big, hooking, lefty serve.
Although Sharapova?s right-handed serve can be extremely hard to handle, it just isn?t as much of a game-changer as Kvitova?s, whose serve is different from all the other great serves out there. I?m not being coy or, heaven forbid, sarcastic. The thing with Kvitova is that she maximizes the left-hander effect; you can see it in the way she lines up and the way she swings through the ball. Her slice is vicious, and it could present particular problems for an opponent whose movement has always been something of a liability.
If Kvitova as a good day at the service notch, she can protect her outstanding weakness?a forehand that can go awry on her under duress, especially the strain of a major final. There were moments during Kvitova?s semifinal when it looked like Victoria Azarenka would break down that forehand and punch through, but she came up just short. Kvitova?s main challenge will be to serve well enough to keep Sharapova back on her heels.
When you think about Sharapova?s service challenge, the first thing that pops to mind is that she needs to avoid those awful breakdowns when she hits double faults in bunches. That?s job No. 1. But if you want to take a more positive approach, you can also say that if Sharapova has a good to great day at the notch, she can put Kvitova under a lot of pressure. If Sharapova serves well, Kvitova?s own hold games will become that much more important, and once again, ?pressure? may become a factor.
3. If Sharapova wins, would you consider her the best player in women's tennis right now?
Should she win Saturday, should we consider Sharapova the best player in women's tennis? (AP Photo)
I don?t think I could go that far, although I will concede that she?ll have shown herself to be?by far?the toughest. And maybe at this moment in time, that?s a quality that puts her on the inside track to being the best. For Sharapova, that would be extremely gratifying, and perhaps even represent a degree of vindication.
?I feel a sense of evolvement,? Sharapova said in her own presser. ?You know, this year I feel like I?ve grown as a player and I?ve gotten better. It gives me a lot of confidence moving forward. But it doesn?t stop here. I never said that. Never in my career. That I?ve reached this level and I?m just so happy and so proud. I always feel like there?s more to improve and things to get better.?
4. Who looked better through the journey to the final?
Kvitova had steadier and more orderly progress, with fewer peaks and valleys in her matches than did Sharapova. But let?s face it, both women benefited from the relative chaos on the WTA side of the pro fence. Consider this: the average ranking of the women Sharapova beat en route to the final was No. 74.5, and for Kvitova the number was 62.
The only player seeded higher than either of the finalists to lose to one of them was No. 4 Azarenka, who was taken down in the semis by Kvitova in an excellent prep for the final. Sharapova, meanwhile, played a wild card in her semi?albeit a very dangerous one in Lisicki.
Kvitova lost two sets on her way to the final. Sharapova, despite her fitful game, lost none. And while Sharapova was on court for an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes for each match, Kvitova, who lost two sets, actually spent less time on court (her matches lasted an average of 1:14 and 30 seconds).
5. Who will win?
I?m picking Kvitova, because I think the world of that big left-handed serve of hers; it?s tailor-made for grass, even Sharapova has admitted as much. And the Czech?s flat groundstrokes will ask too much of Sharapova in the movement department. However?and this is a big if?should Kvitova find herself beset by nerves (she is, after all, a countrywoman of Jana Novotna), it could be an ugly route. The former champion is opportunistic, and ruthless.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/0BfaSmgN1jA/
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