MARIA SHARAPOVA WINS ROME TENNIS TITLE BY GLOBAL CHICK

Written by: Global Chick on 17th May 2015

MARIA SHARAPOVA WINS ROME TENNIS TITLE BY GLOBAL CHICK

epa04753326 Maria Sharapova of Russia holds the trophy after beating Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in their final match for the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 17 May 2015. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI |

Wherever we may… Rome

As we kick back with one last gelato, and gear up for carbs galore in Paris, we just have a little time to look back at the women’s final in The Eternal City.

It was vital that Suarez Navarro made a quick start, especially after coming face to face with Serena Williams in Miami, and pretty much being blasted off the court. That is not to say that Sharapova cannot do the same, but with at least one win over the Russian. Suarez Navarro had to come into this match feeling she had a shot at pushing for the title.

Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain serves the ball to Maria Sharapova of Russia during their final match for the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 17 May 2015. EPA/MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI

With the first three games out of the way, Sharapova decided it was time to bring the lions into the Colosseum putting the Spaniard under pressure, but not quite finding a way past her defence to convert on the three break points. It will have given Suarez Navarro a little confidence to have come through that, as she broke Sharapova on her second try in the next game, and bolstered it with a love hold putting her firmly in the driver’s seat. Then again… if you have watched people drive in Rome…

Anyway, anything you can do – as Suarez Navarro consolidated her break to hold, Sharapova had had quite enough of that, thank you so much, and responded in kind, but you can always depend on Sharapova to pull out the stops as a few games down the line, she saved a set point with a stunning catch on the net (and we don’t mean a prize carp), and digging herself out of a second one to force Suarez Navarro to serve it out for a one set lead over the soon-to-again-be World No. 2.

Before we’d even had a chance to eye up the coffee menu, Sharapova was back on song and in focus in the second set to get her first break of the match but just when it looked promising, but cruel double faults (are there any other kind?) handed the break straight back, and the Spaniard got a little more breathing room.

It could have all been over if Suarez Navarro had managed to hang on to a break point on Sharapova’s next game but some gritty determination kept Sharapova just a squeak in front on serve. Curious things, these double faulty beasts – With Suarez Navarro suddenly on the back foot, a double fault from her gave Sharapova the chance to break once more, and to be in with a shout of snaffling the second set. Then again, Suarez Navarro had other ideas; obviously gelato waits for no woman, as she set about breaking straight back, before saving a set point and evened up the whole shebang at 5-5. In the end eight straight points for Sharapova took her over the line with the second set.

Maria Sharapova of Russia returns the ball to Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain during their final match for the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 17 May 2015. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI

So eyes down for the third set, and where you would think the momentum would be with the Russian, it was Suarez Navarro that finally got on the better end of the three break points she brought up, but Sharapova was having none of that, thank you very much. We’ll order a side order of break-straight-back with our latte, if you would be so kind.

Would it come down to fatigue, after the Spaniard had battled through a couple of particularly tough matches for her, on the way to three Top 10 scalps? It started to get away awfully fast from the Spaniard, whose movement seemed to be stuck in the potholes of clay that had plagued Court Centrale for most of the week. It was Suarez Navarro’s time to over-hit, as Sharapova struck with four games on the trot, while it looked as though cramp was moving in to boot the poor lass in the limbs.

Fatigue in the face of Sharapova’s onslaught was tough to watch as Suarez Navarro faded away but she can take comfort with a boost in the rankings, and with the French Open around the corner, that will not hurt at all, unlike her tired legs right now.

Sharapova closed out a third Rome title, her 35th title and 11th on clay, 4-6 7-5 6-1 on Sunday, with both women back in action when the French Open begins on Sunday 24th May.

Topics: Carla Suarez Navarro, global chick, Italian Open, Maria Sharapova, Rome tennis, Tennis News, Wta