The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Sharapova looking for her range against Serena Posted: 07 Jun 2013 08:47 AM PDT
Defending champion Sharapova has been more beauty or beast in the last couple of rounds, however, mixing brilliance with woeful interludes, with aces and winners often being matched by doubles faults and wild errors. The "good" Maria, the one that served 12 aces against Victoria Azarenka in Thursday' semi-finals, will have to show up against Williams if she is to stand any chance of preventing the world number one lifting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup 11 years after her first triumph. Second seed Sharapova needs to produce an almost flawless display if she is to become the first woman to retain her Paris title since Justine Henin in 2007. While American Serena dropped only a set en route to the final and annihilated Saran Errani 6-0 6-1 in the semi-final, four-times grand slam winner Sharapova survived a 6-0 drubbing in the first set of her quarter-final with Jelena Jankovic and then needed more than two hours to go through the semis, grinding past Azarenka in an error-strewn clash. "If Sharapova serves well, there will be a contest," Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena's coach, told reporters. "Sharapova moves better (on clay) but not well enough yet." Mouratoglou believes Williams, who is on a 30-match winning streak, has her fate firmly in her own hands after prevailing in all 12 of their matches since the 2004 Tour finals. "Serena will start with a psychological advantage, for sure. The result will not depend on Sharapova but on Serena," he added. ONE-DIMENSIONAL? Sharapova, however, clings to the notion that the final will start at 0-0. "I'd be lying if (that record) doesn't bother me, obviously," the Russian told reporters today. "Whatever I did in the past hasn't worked, so I'll have to try to do something different. "Going into a French Open final, that (record) doesn't matter. It all starts from zero." Serena agreed, saying: "It's a different time, a different era, just a different match. It's a brand new match." Sharapova refutes the idea that her baseline-bashing profile is one-dimensional, saying she did not get to her second final by chance. "No matter how good she's playing, you also have to give yourself a bit of credit for getting to that point and doing a few things right to be at that stage and giving yourself an opportunity," said Sharapova. "Whether you take it, that's another story." It will also be a matter of consistency for Sharapova, who has yet to find the perfect balance on the Paris clay this year. She has been experiencing a fair few wobbles in her run to the final, making 185 unforced errors in her six matches while Serena made 100. Friday's semi-final encapsulated Sharapova's problems as she served 12 aces but also 11 double faults, spraying the court with unforced errors and winners with equal measure. Serena in contrast fired 40 winners and allowed Italian fifth seed Errani - last year's finalist - only 16 points, making herself the hot favourite to succeed on Saturday. It is quite a change from 2002 when she beat sister Venus in the final. "I was really surprised, for sure. I didn't go into that match expecting to win," Serena said. "I just thought, 'Hey, I'm in the final and let's see what happens'." It is a motto Sharapova could do worse than heed. — Reuters |
| Woods back on top of Forbes’ sports earnings list Posted: 07 Jun 2013 08:20 AM PDT
An article posted on the magazine's website this week gives the rundown of the 2013 list, which will appear in the June 24 issue. Woods had topped the Forbes list from 2001-2011 - staying there despite the loss of some sponsors in the wake of the sex scandal that engulfed him in November of 2009. But he fell to third last year, behind boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Forbes calculates he is back on top, raking in $78.1 million over the 12 months from June 1, 2012 through June 1, 2013 from prize money, endorsements, appearance fees and golf course design work. His resurgence on the course has seen him double his prize money from the previous 12 months. According to Forbes, Woods's victories have further boosted his income thanks to bonuses tied to wins from sponsors Nike and Rolex, while his course design business is improving after some setbacks. Swiss tennis great Roger Federer ranks second on the list with earnings of US$71.5 million (RM214.5 million), while Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is third at US$61.9 million. Miami Heat star LeBron James, the NBA Most Valuable Player whose team is battling to repeat as champion this season, came in fourth with US$59.8 million and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed the top five with US$51 million. Mayweather dropped from first to 14th this year - tied with Filipino fight king Pacquiao. Mayweather had earnings of US$34 million from his fight with Robert Guerrero in May, while in the period covered for the 2012 list he fought twice. Pacquiao netted US$26 million from his December fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, according to Forbes, which reckons Pacquiao also pulled in an estimated US$8 million in endorsements. Russian Maria Sharapova was the highest earning woman on the list, in 22nd place. Fellow tennis players Serena Williams of the United States and Li Na of China were the only other women in the list of 100 sports figures. Forbes based its earnings figures on salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees and licensing and endorsement income for the 12 months between June 1, 2012 and June 1, 2013. — AFP-Relaxnews |
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