Bartoli and Sharapova: Two women who will be missed at the US Open
Maria Sharapova
It was a tense moment as the 11th seed and the 3rd seed were engaged in an intense battle to decide the winner. A win would mean oodles for both. For the former, it would be her first ever appearance in the last four stage of the US Open. For the latter, it would mean another hurdle overcome on a treacherous journey leading to domination. The match was suspended when the 11th seed led 4-0 in the first game. On the morrow, when they reassembled, she let slip the match like butter slithering on a smooth surface.
Alas, today, neither would step onto the court when proceedings are underway at Flushing Meadows. Marion Bartoli and Maria Sharapova will be missed at the US Open.
For a fan of both, it is utter disappointment. One has hung her boots, bidding farewell to the sport on account of an injured body while the other is nursing an injury and planning to return soon.
When Sharapova went into a hiatus in 2008, succumbing to shoulder injury, she found a comeback very difficult. It was only in 2012 that she was able to win another slam and clinch the top ranking.
If this time, the injury is that serious, there are chances that tennis will lose its glam girl and a very talented player. It is a matter of concern that Sharapova’s past month and a half was rather troublesome. After losing in the second round of the Championships to a qualifier, she could return only for the Cincinnati event last week.
Again, she lost her very first match to Sloane Stephens. Next in line was a withdrawal from the final slam of the year.
One can recall her thoughts on Justine henin’s retirement. She said that if she had won as many slams as Henin and achieved so much, she would surely retire. Yet, she took a contradictory stance a few years later. She says she intends to play as long as she loves the game. Can she do it? Will she be albe to dominate the game ? Hopefully.
She is just now realising her full potential over an extended period. Since reaching the Wimbledon final again in 2011, she has put up a string of very consistent performances. Last year, initially, she lost to Azarenka continuously. As their meetings became more frequent, Sharapova started scoring wins over the then no.1. The clay court swing was a major boost for her.
From being unable to even move with ease on clay, she has progressed miles. She won Stuttgart, Rome and the French Open last year in a show of pure grit and determinance.
As a reward, she regained the prized top position in the rankings chart. After solving the Azarenka puzzle, she now faces another challenger in the form of Serena Williams. Since 2004, she has never managed to better the American. Her consistency this year, until Wimbledon, had two dimensions- consistently posting wins over all players and consistently falling to Serena.
At least after her return, we hope, she comes with the key to unlock this monotony.
Marion Bartoli
On the other hand, all eyes turned to Bartoli to see whether the Wimbledon Champ could do well at the Open too. She withdrew from the Carlsbad event, retired in the third round at Montreal and finally announced retirement after losing her opening match at Cincinnati.
It was a bolt from the blue. Injuries had hampered her progress throughout the year. After winning the Championship, she felt that she no longer needed to endure the pain as she has the most coveted of all silverware in the kitty.
A very unique player in all respects, she plays double handed shots on either side, has a variety of odd looking routines to do on court and even has an exceptional IQ. She rose to fame with a Wimbledon runner up finish in 2007. Since then, she managed to reach the finals of no other major until her 2013 Wimbledon win.
It is sad indeed that these two women will not be in action at Flushing Meadows this year. But, that is sport. Retirement and injuries are inevitable, especially at the higher echelons of the game.