LONDON — Maria Sharapova was going to be the solution – well the partial solution – to many of woman’s tennis lingering woes. In an era where older players on the reverse side of 25 were dominating, the 24-year old seemed less than creaky. These days no player has been dominating, but at least Sharapova, a household name, already has three Slam trophies on her mantle and seemed poised to start collecting again. Among the elite, there are now a dearth of Americans and while Sharapova is not a citizen, the Manhattan Beach resident with the NBA fiancé seems as American as a Starbucks on West Elm.
Okay, these would just be partial answers, a quick fix. But there is no bigger international star than Masha, the high heels gal with the OMG looks who’s graced a thousand magazine covers. While off-court she can be a compelling mix – bright ‘n breezy and a tad imperious with a dash of ‘tude – on court she is an intense performer in Aubrey Hepburn-like frocks and Tiffany earrings whose collected 23 career titles, $15.1 million in career earnings thanks to her deep hard groundies and a will-to-win (and loud) ferocity that only Ms. Serena and Mr. Rafa could match.
Of course, her foe, Petra Kvitova, can hardly match Maria’s resume. But the Czech had won three titles this year and had quality wins over names like Kim (notable by her Wimbledon absence) Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka and Marion Bartoli, among others. Plus, her 21-year old shoulders were broader than Sharapova’s, her legs were younger and stronger and yes, her ponytail dangled longer.
Plus there was an omen. Before the finals, Wimbledon’s brass band played a Beatles melody that brought to mind the Fab Four’s ditty “Her Majesty Is A Mighty Nice Girl, But She Doesn’t Have A Lot to Say.” For the seemingly shy Kvitova, who is still learning English, quite understandably was less than a quote machine. Yes, it was no secret that Martina Navratilova was Kvitova’s hero, but the press had to dig deep to find out that she likes to compare herself to Juan Martin Del Potro, that “Pink” was her favorite singer and her fave movie was “The Social Network” which she said was “easy to watch and didn’t take much thinking about.”
Asked what advantages she might bring against Sharapova, she said “Lefthanded, I can say.” When asked what books she likes to read she said “crime.”
Of course, you didn’t have to be a Sherlock Holmes to realize her job had nothing to do with sound bytes and everything to do with the painful bite of her first strike goundies and sweeping lefty serve.
As she stepped out on court Petra wasn’t petrified, but she did start slow, suffering three errors as she dropped the first game of the match. Then she got down to business, attacking Maria’s forehand as she won six of seven points, broke back and raced bravely to a 4-2 lead.
Banging heavy, well placed winners all over the court she bravely took control and didn’t allow Sharapova to establish any rhythm. She was going for broke and making it,” Navratilova told IT. Calm and fearless, one thought of Francesca Schiavone going for it at the ’09 French final. A young gunslinger, she reminded some of teen Sharapova taking down the supposedly invincible Serena Williams in ’04.
The composed Kvitova — hitting flat and hard, especially down the line — unleashed her lethal well-placed and hard to read lefty serve and raced to a breathtaking 6-3 first set win in 39 minutes and then broke to a 2-0 lead in the second set. Phew.
But Sharapova’s will is almost as renowned as her looks. Surely, she’ll would mount a counter-attack and find her way back. And Kvitova helped out, hitting an easy sitter right to the Russian who broke back on serve.
“We’re in the meaty bit of the match,” announced broadcaster Sue Mappin. Clearly Sharapova turned up the heat and focus with yet another break. One sensed Sharapova’s recent recipe — “tough it out, hang in there, don’t be thrown off by your double faults, will your self to victory” – just might deliver the tastiest title in tennis.
But ultimately, she left some secret Sharapovian spice in the cupboard.
Or maybe Kvitova just had more ingredients – or simply a bigger game. For every time Maria broke, Sharapova could not consolidate her advantage. Returning beautifully, using her weight on both wings, taking heart from her rowdy support team yelling in her (and Maria’s ear), Kvitova found herself up 6-3, 5-4 and serving for the Championship. As a stable of players with Czech roots looked on from the Royal Box – Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna, Martina Hingis, Jan Kodes, Helena Sukova – the girl from Fulnek who spoke softly but carried a big Wilson stick — blasted an ace down the T to clinch her crown. Stunned and in shock, she grasped her face, sheer disbelief.
Yes, she was No. 8 in the world, had reached the semis last year, had won three titles this season, had a dangerous game on grass and was a trendy insider pick. Still, this was “A Star is Born” jolt.
Not only was Kvitova the first Czech Wimbledon woman champ since Novotna in ’98, amazingly she was with Brit Ann Jones and Martina, just the third left-handed Wimbledon woman’s champ ever. “But that didn’t matter,” said Navratilova. “Maria was simply overpowered.”
At last, Kvitova did what no other player of her generation – Caroline Wozniacki, Azarenka, Andrea Petkovic and many others — could do. She broke through and won a Slam title for tennis’ youngest (and surprisingly underachieving) generation.
The victory left her dad in a torrent of tears. Kvitova could not believe that she — not Mighty Maria, the international icon — was “the champion on the Wimbledon.” But clearly this is one British crown that clearly “Kvit’s” the game’s new Queen.
OF WOBBLES AND WHIFFS, WONDERS AND THE WISDOM OF A CURIOUS GAME THEY CALL TENNIS
JUST WONDERING: What’s more astounding. Nadal’s mid-point ability to go from defense to offense or the ease he goes from snarling, fierce competitor on-court, to a thoughtful, considerate, kind and increasingly reflective person off-court.
TALL ORDER: Mary Carillo once said that the only way to beat Nadal at the French Open was to hit every ball on the lines. Djokovic said to become No. 1 all you have to do is to lose just one match in seven months.
A CHALLENGING WEEKEND FOR “MARIA ‘S’s” FROM CALIFORNIA: Maria Sharapova loses Wimbledon crown. Maria Shriver files for divorce.
HEADLINES
ANDY FINDS NADAL A SPAIN IN THE GRASS
THE SILENCE OF THE SLAMS
WIMBLEDON DEFEAT PROVES AS BRITISH AS TEA AND SCONES
FOR AN HOUR THERE WAS GENUINE BELIEF THEN CAME THE COLLAPSE
HE’S THE RIGHT MAN AT THE WRONG TIME
NADAL INFLICTS ANOTHER YEAR OF HURT
NADAL PUTS DRAMA OF ‘MY LEFT FOOT’ BEHIND HEM
ANDY IS A BETTER PLAYER THAN MANY WHO HAVE WON A GRAND SLAM
THE DESPERATUE NATURE OF THE HOME RECORD MAKES HIM UNDERPRAISED AND OVERBLAMED
GO FIGURE: In the quarters Federer took a bathroom break between the third and fourth set against Tsonga and on his return was immediately broken. In his semi, Tsonga did the same thing between the third and fourth sets against Djokovic and was also broken.
AND THE GREG LOUGANIIS MEDALLION FOR THE MOST MEMORABLE DIVING DISPLAY SINCE BORIS BECKER GOES TO: Jo-Willie Tsonga who gave us three memorable dives in his semi loss to Djokovic.
SEPERATED AT BIRTH DEARTH: Right, Tsonga looks just like Muhammad Ali. But how come we can’t think of any other great sports celebrity look alike duo.
DUOPOLY BUSTED UP: Since February ’04 there has been either a Federer or Nadal has been No. 1. On Monday Djokovic will claim that top spot.
