French Open 2012 Women’s Singles Final preview: Maria Sharapova vs Sara Errani

Three time Grand slam champion Maria Sharapova meets first time Grand slam finalist Sara Errani in the final of this year’s French Open. Maria Sharapova, who has never reached the Roland Garros final before, has every Grand Slam title in her kitty except the French Open. Only rookie Italian Sara Errani stands between Sharapova and her long-held dream of completing a career slam.

Twenty third seed Sara Errani has been the surprise element of this year’s French Open. Until last year, she never got past the third round of any Grand slam event. Her best ever Grand slam performance was a quarter-final appearance in Australian Open this year. Roland Garros 2012 is certainly a dream come true for this little known Italian. Can she upstage the mighty Maria in the final?

Route to final

Sharapova has been at her sublime best all through the tournament. She ruthlessly demolished Alexandra Cadantu 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and breezed past Ayumi Morita 6-1, 6-1 in the second round before defeating Shuai Peng of China 6-2, 6-1 in the third round. Klara Zakopalova did not succumb without a fight as the Russian was made to sweat for her 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 victory. Sharapova eliminated Kaia Kanepi in the quarter-final with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. She showed no mercy against the fourth seed Petra Kvitova in the semi-final and won 6-3, 6-3 in what can only be described as a one-sided affair.

Unlike Sharapova, Sara labored all the way into the final. She dropped her first set of the tournament against Casey Dellacqua but recovered well to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. She wasted no time against Melanie Oudin and quickly won 6-2, 6-3 to move the third round. She was finally acknowledged as a genuine contender when she dispatched former champion Ana Ivanovic 1-6, 7-5, 6-3. Svetlana Kuznetsova, another former champion fell victim to Errani’s prowess as she breezed into the quarter-final with a fine 6-0, 7-5 victory. Angelique Kerber was overwhelmed by a 6-3, 7-6 margin. Sara continued her giant-killing quest as she quelled the sixth seeded Samantha Stosur with a hard-fought 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 victory.

Sharapova has won two clay-court tournaments this year and is widely expected to clinch the French open as well. On the other hand, Errani is in the best form of her life and is genuinely capable of staging another upset. The final can only be described as a battle between David and Goliath.

Tags: Australia, Preview, Russia, Sharapova

Category: French Open, Tennis