For mine, a certain fourth round encounter at the 2012 Australian Open was the match of the tournament! Sabine Lisicki is a superb competitor, and played really well, but ... it's no disgrace to lose to, for mine, the finest competitor I've seen in women's sport in Maria Sharapova. She really is something special, that lass, make no mistake.
You can complain all you like about the screaming, the gamesmanship, etc., but they're just as much a part of the MaSha package as attributes which, for mine, probably deserve more recognition than most in positions to do so are prepared to afford them: heart, court craft, sheer will to win, focus and intensity, her general never-say-die approach, and - and this is very important - her contribution towards flying the flag for women's tennis and women's sport generally, which, let's face it, would be all the poorer without one of its most recognised, recognisable, respected and - rightly, for mine - highest earning achievers and ambassadors.
Forza Maria! You rock, champ!! More power to you! :-))
|
