About to start - players are warming up.

Maria has come out fired-up, and races up to 15-40. But Justine isn't far behind, saving both break points with some high-powered play.

An ace and a long Sharapova backhand in a baseline rally later, JHH holds.

'Evening MJT.. you are becoming a bit of a night owl with these late matches.. :)

After her good start, Maria seems to be more shaky now, or perhaps she's still beating herself up over missing those break points in the first game. At 15-15, she double-faults to give Henin a bit of a chance. However, a JHH drop-shot is just short on the next point, so it's 30-30.

JHH returns a second serve into the net, but another double-fault brings it back to deuce (Maria possibly being put off by people shouting between her two serves.)

She dominates a baseline rally which ends with Henin finding the net. But she nets a backhand herself, to go back to deuce. After a winner from Justine, it is Maria's turn to face a break point. And the FO champion takes hit after hitting a superb cross-court forehand on an approach shot which Maria can't return.

Good stuff... :ok:

Looks like Maria has broken back.. 2-1 to JHH..

I know petalp ... curse the time difference! My fiancee couldn't keep up with me and has gone to bed already, but there aren't that many GSs in the year, and with Martina's last ever match on tonight, how I can I not brave the inconvenience of a little lost sleep?

Let's see how long I can keep this up though. That chorus which was on for about an hour when I thought the match should start almost made me go to bed already ...

I must be about a minute or two behind ...

and indeed, Justine puts a forehand long on my screen, and Maria breaks back. Good stuff indeed! I'll just have to be careful not to update the page before key points, or I'll know the story before I see it happen ...

Good for you burning the midnight oil to follow this, and Martina's match too! And you're 1 hour ahead of the uk..

I've just got in from my night out, so am just taking things easy, winding down for the night.

Never quite got the hang of the online viewing as I have an applemac, and it just wasn't playing ball, but a combination of the USO radio, beeb written commentary and postings here help give me a good idea of what is going on..

Alright, Maria about to serve ...

(Btw, I like her, and think she deserves another slam to follow up her Wimbledon win, but what's up with those earrings? Do you think she'll get Roddick to wear them for the final tomorrow rotflmao.)

Some big serves and high-powered baseline play in this game see Maria go up to 40-0. However, she doesn't return a ball she thinks is out, but which is called good; the challenge confirms the call. Perhaps still p****d off at that, she puts a ball long on the next point, but another power serve sees Justine's return hit the net, and Maria holds.

Actually, I'm in the UK; same as you, I think? Still late enough ...

Henin holds as a Sharapove volley hits the net. Sinatra plays on the change-over ("Come fly with me ...")

I find this music on the changeovers quite funny. It takes away from the tension a bit, don't you think?

Now there's an image! :blink:

Maybe Andy should! It would fan the flames of the rumours of course.. could refer to him as 'Mr. Sharapov'.. or Maria as Ms. Roddick??

I'm fine with both players, but probably have a preference for JHH, as she has the most gorgeous backhand. I agree with your thoughts that Maria does deserve to win a slam though. Time is of course on her side, and probably her best bets are the USO, SW19, AO and RG in that order..

Well.. this is feeling like a half-decent match... so far..

Maria's service game goes to deuce as she nets a ball on game point. However, a killer of a second serve, which Henin can only return wide *and* into the net, gives her another one. A few high-powered groundstrokes later, she holds.

And JHH's serving seems better.. well, it couldn't be worse, yesterday..

What do you think would happen, if you were to cut that one little strip of fabric in the back of Maria's outfit . . . . :whistle:


Nice backhand by Justine there, btw.

Ah! I just wondered, as you mentioned that you were German, and thought that mat=ybe you might be living there.. :blush:

Presumably there would be a 'wardrobe malfunction of some description?? :unsure:

My early impression is that this match is very much on Henin-Hardenne's racket - if she plays up to standard then she'll win. She's playing much better than in the semi.

Having said that Sharapova is showing a bit of willingness to try something different - and you have to give credit to someone with the guts to turn up to play tennis in an evening dress :D

Maybe it would put Roger off ... might be Andy's best chance.

Which reminds me, before the Wimbledon final my fiancee suggested that perhaps Nadal should come out with his own jacket, for his two French Opens, to put Federer off. Perhaps he should have done as well! :D

Meanwhile, Henin holds. This match is shaping up nicely so far.

Hehe :D

I think she looks very young in it, though. Then, again, she is very young.

I liked the jacket.. maybe Rafa should have one too :)

The first set is indeed taking shape nicely..

Hope you haven't spoken too soon!

:o Two break points for Maria.

No problem; you had no reason to assume otherwise! I've been living in the UK for a few years now, though.

Another good hold from Maria.

Sounds a whole lot better than the pastel baby doll/ pregnant mother outifts that she wore at RG

Ugh - a shot of Yuri Sharapov. Always makes me want to throw things at the telly.

Pox!

Maria applies more pressure and breaks 5-4, serving for the set..

Gutsy play from Maria. With a little help from her friends - make the from Henin - she gets two break points. The first one goes away when she mishits a forehand that she has trouble to reach. But after Justine first has two net-serves and then misses her first, she finally gets the chance to play the second break point, and wins it! JHH is a break down.

Comment from the beeb site:

"Sharapova has certainly got her game face on - she looks like someone has just nicked her purse"

:rolleyes:

I didn't see much of RG, I'm afraid; pretty much just the men's final. I actually *was* in Germany at the time, meaning I got to see it on Eurosport, but I was there for work so couldn't indulge myself as much as I did for the USO ... ;)

Hehe - I always like the commentary on the beeb. I seem to remember that after the Wimbledon final, they suggested that next year they should make it a bit harder for Roger. Say, by making him play doubles. On his own. roflmao

30-all while Maria is trying to serve out the set. Maria moves Henin around the court and wins a set point. And she clinches it with a serve Justine can't return!

It's more like she's stolen JHH's purse, if you ask me ... ;)

Oh well - Justine will have to do it the long way.

I saw quite a lot of it.. It wasn't the most memorable of tournaments.. Was still a treat to be able to watch it, as I had never had the chance before..

I'm really enjoying this match so far. Sitting here with one laptop hooked up to the TV, the other on my lap while reclining on the sofa with a glass of wine ... it's rather nice :)

Nothing new there - she often spends whole matches looking like someone has broken wind two feet in front of her. :D

Henin powers up to 40-0, only to drag herself down to 40-30. But finally Sharapova hits just wide from the baseline, and Justine holds.

Looks like she is a bit more fired up now that she lost the first set. Let's see if she can fight back - wouldn't put it past her.

Perhaps she did herself ;)

Nadal also has a similar face ... I remember a picture - during a serve, possibly - which looks like he is smelling his armpit and doesn't like it very much :wacko: :hide: