Serena vs. Maria up now :)

I want to see it. Can't fidn live streams.

don't know of one i'm afraid.

Sharpie a break up :ok:

back on serve now

The momentum swings have been thick on the ground, but Serena has the final say in the first set, breaking to 15 to take it 7-5. Sharapova had opportunities, with a set point on Serena's serve from 5-3 and serving for it 5-4, but Serena had let her own several opportunities to take charge of the set slip earlier, so they were just breaking even. :P

Both women are going for their shots, and the clay is providing tense rallies aplenty, so it's been delivering as far as a high-profile match-up. It can still go to three sets, and Sharapova has dug herself out of trouble a few times last week and can do so again, but Serena will probably be looking to close this out in two. Each of them has a winning streak to defend, coming off a title (actually Serena has won two in a row), interestingly.

Some more twists and turns. Sharapova fights off 15-40, races to 0-40 on Serena's serve in the next game, with Serena saving first one and then the second with an ace, but a return winner from Sharapova on the third sees her take an early lead in the second set 2-1. Of course, she started the first set that way also....

Sharapova looked to efficiently wrapping up the second set, up a double break and double set point at 5-2, 40-15. Instead she hits her seventh double fault at deuce, Serena gets the break and holds to love. Sharapova will get another chance to serve it out at 5-4.

It's official-Sharapova cannot hold serve :( :rolleyes:

Sharapova makes amends with her own hold to love, and we're into a decider. Good stuff.

Maria holds :yahoo: and wins the set. I am just happy she won a set off Serena on clay :) Even if she doesn't win the match it's an improvement....

A strong start for Serena in the third set, building a 3-0 lead fairly quickly. However, it is still just the one break of serve between them, and the way this match has gone I would be surprised if more suspense isn't on offer.

Serena is just all over each and every point. Threatening again at 15-40, Sharapova feels the pressure and a ninth DF surrenders a second service break. The finish line is in sight for Serena, up 4-0.

:yikes: Maria!!!!

Serena is really turning it on now, playing like she has somewhere to go after the match. A swift hold to love consolidates an overwhelming 5-0 lead. With just four points total won in this set, it looks very grim for Sharapova. Have to say I didn't see this coming.

Sharapova does well to avoid the bagel, gritting out a hold from 30-all, but the outcome in the decider was never in doubt. Serena takes her H2H against Sharapova to 5-2 with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 victory. Still, there were plenty of positives to take from the match for the Russian; it's the closest she'd played Serena in some time, and she could have conceivably won it 6-4, 6-2, and her strong performance on the green clay should serve her in good stead going forward into the European courts.

But well done to Serena, who has to be a heavy favourite against the very talented but still inconsistent and inexperienced at the Tier I level teens Szavay and Cornet. The top half looks a bloodbath by comparison, with defending champion Jankovic and former finalists Dementieva and Schnyder still around, and Zvonareva continuing a solid season that has seen her back in the Top 20. Any one of these women can reach the final and even potentially upset Serena, I think.

Serena :yahoo:

Maria :angry:

Oh well. Commiserations m'dear Maria :( :(

Well done to Serena :clap: :clap: who looks like she may well on the road to consistency this time around?!? Who knows.

Serena :bow: :bow:

Aint no way she was losing to maria on clay :lol:

Tough all the way though because Maria is such an intense competitor, but Serena is just so mentally strong that when she's got you in a stranglehold she never lets go. Maria was just swept away in the decider.

Keep this form up Serena, i still fancy a Serena-Dementieva final :D

Yeah so do I. Or maybe Jankovic. But I reckon this is Serena's titel to lose.

went to a lunch meeting w/my co-workers & they had this match on in the bar :o Thought Serena looked good.

Dementieva is serving for the set against Schnyder.

I'm pleasantly surprised by how much Cornet has improved from the last couple of times I saw her play (namely against Venus at RG and Jankovic at the USO). The talent was always there, but it seemed as though she was a long way off from bringing it all together. Not only does she seem fitter and stronger - she used to get winded fairly rapidly in rallies - but she's cleaned up her groundstrokes and seems to be making better decisions out there. She's very quick to exploit any court openings, and is fairly solid off both wings. And for such a slight lass, she's not only coped well with Serena's power, but has often returned it with interest.

The French teen actually had Serena on the ropes, leading a double break 4-1 in the first set, although partly due to a characteristically slow start from the American, who recovered to 5-4 before Cornet won another game. Unfortunately Cornet faltered a bit staring at a 0-30 hole from 5-6, hitting her first DF and then a wild forehand to drop the set. Still, she's made a good accounting of herself thus far.

I love Jelena :wub: