Sharapova lost her spark before doping ban
NEW YORK: Maria Sharapova’s grand slam comeback was cut short in the fourth round of the US Open on Sunday, but she had already lost her spark even before her 15-month doping ban, according to former world number one Mats Wilander.
The Russian’s return to the big stage had been eagerly anticipated and her opening win against second seed Simona Halep prompted pundits to rate her among the favourites at Flushing Meadows.
But her run ended with a 5-7 6-4 6-2 defeat to Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“To be able to come back and play like she played is impressive but unfortunately when you go back you see she was not doing that well on tour since a couple of years before her suspension,” former US Open champion Wilander, at the US Open as an analyst for Eurosport, said in his daily chat with Reuters.
“I think I made a mistake, it’s not right for everybody to think she could have returned to a place where she was six or seven years ago.”
Sharapova, who won her last grand slam tournament at the 2014 French Open, failed her drugs test at the 2016 Australian Open.
“She was not really playing that well before she got back from suspension. Why? Maybe she was lacking a bit of that Sharapova fire, like she was not as determined today,” said Swede Wilander.
“On a few points I was a little bit surprised. I thought it was surprising that she did not win this match but then I remembered how she was playing before her ban.
“She never gave up but there was a little bit of confidence missing.”
Wilander said the former world number one had brought a lot to the US Open, her presence in the main stadium in her four matches making sure the 23 771 seats would be taken.
“(They were) great matches for her on Arthur Ashe, four matches in a row,” said Wilander.
“What is cool about Sharapova is that she was not down after making a mistake, everybody makes mistakes. She was an inspiration for the tournament.”
Elsewhere, American women continued to shine on a grey Labor Day weekend as the resurgent Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens fought their way into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Sunday.
Ninth seed Williams and Stephens qualified with 6-3 3-6 6-1 wins against gritty Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro and German Julia Goerges, respectively.
Both Williams and Stephens are enjoying comeback tales.
Williams made the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals this year, her first grand slam championship matches since 2009, while Stephens is back to form after almost a year out following foot surgery.
“I think that now I’m running around and sweating, my ponytail is flying, these are all such great things,” said Stephens.
The 24-year-old entered the temporary structure of Louis Armstrong Stadium with a 4-1 career record against 30th seed Goerges.
She wasted three set points at 5-3 in the opening set but in the fourth, her opponent hit wide and Stephens seemed in control. But she lost her focus and the German levelled a contest of baseliners.
Goerges couldn’t keep up with the pace in the decider, though, and Stephens wrapped it up comfortably.
The same scenario applied on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Williams, with the backing of the 23000 crowd, raced through the first set before Suarez Navarro’s sliced backhand started to trouble her.
The Spaniard’s effort to level the match cost her, however, and Williams played with more accuracy in the decider as Suarez Navarro grew frustrated before capitulating.
A US Open champion in 2000 and 2001, Williams has been around long enough to deal with her opponents’ aggression.
“The depth in the game is so much deeper now than it was at the time,” Williams said.
“It’s never easy to win a slam. I mean, now I’ll play players who I’ve never seen or know their name, and you can’t let up one point.
“Players come out with a lot more confidence now. Every time I step out on the court, that person is coming for me.
“It doesn’t matter if I played for a year, not even if I’m ranked 100 or number whatever, they’re coming for me.
“When I get to these majors, I know that’s what it is.”
Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova signalled her return to top form eight months after sustaining a career-threatening hand injury with an impressive 7-6(3) 6-3 win over pre-tournament favourite Garbine Muguruza to reach the quarter-finals.
The Czech was sidelined for five months after being stabbed in her left playing hand by an intruder at her home and although the 13th seed has gradually moved towards her best level, Muguruza was the hot favourite under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I tried to work really hard to play here again. It means a lot, it’s an incredible night to play in front of a great crowd,” Kvitova said in her on-court interview.
“I don’t think I can find the right words, it was a difficult time, all five months (away) were very tough.
“It was a tough journey that I didn’t know how would end.
“Everything after what happened is something new and I really appreciate every experience that I have right now in life. Every moment I am living now is something really special.”
The Spanish third seed Muguruza had only dropped nine games en route to the fourth round and her poise, pace and power helped her quickly open a 4-1 lead.
Kvitova then staved off a break point and it jump-started her game.
“Even though I was winning 4-1, I think she was playing great. Looking at her past matches, I think she was playing even better,” said Muguruza.
“So I felt like she was superior today. You know, great for her. She played very good.”
Targeting her opponent’s misfiring forehand, Kvitova levelled to 4-4 and had break points at 5-4 and 6-5 before sealing the tiebreak.
The twice Wimbledon champion, who will next face local favourite Venus Williams, the ninth seed, stayed composed while Muguruza grew increasingly nervous, challenging line calls with no apparent reason as Kvitova moved her left and right with her crafty left hand.
Muguruza seemed back on track in the second set when she broke in the first game but Kvitova grabbed it back and cantered to a 4-1 lead as the Spaniard was given a warning for coaching.
Muguruza hung in by her teeth but she wasted three chances to break back in the ninth game before Kvitova prevailed on her second match point when the Spaniard sent a forehand long.
Kvitova is the only player in the bottom half of the women’s draw to have not dropped a set in this year’s tournament. – Reuters