June 29, 2011
Maria Sharapova last won the Wimbledon title in 2004. The final is back within reach for the former world number one as she faces Sabine Lisicki in one of Thursday's semifinals.
Maria Sharapova, the three-time Grand Slam champion, hasn't shown any sign of weakness at Wimbledon 2011 and there has been pressure on her from the outset as she was considered a tournament favorite heading into the grass court Grand Slam.
A former champion at the All England Club, Sharapova has played brilliantly throughout this month's tournament but she saved her best performance yet for the quarter-finals as she swept aside the challenge of Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.
Cibulkova looked dangerous entering the quarterfinal match as she defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round and Sharapova's dominance over the Slovak can only be taken to mean that the Russian is playing her best tennis.
It will take an exceptional opponent to deny Sharapova a second Wimbledon title but all the players remaining in the Wimbledon draw are in fact playing exceptionally well.
Sabine Lisicki, Sharapova's opponent in the semis, might just have what it takes. The young German has been in dazzling form at the All-England Club, and her ferocious serve has enabled her to get the better of a number of higher ranked opponents. Lisicki, earlier this month, also took down a WTA grass court title and earlier in the Wimbledon draw she defeated Na Li, a player who defeated Sharapova in the French Open semifinals.
Lisicki also defeated former finalist and ninth seeded Marion Bartoli in the last eight (6-4, 6-7, 6-1), shaking off some second set jitters to set up her clash against Sharapova.
Lisicki has every chance of testing Sharapova on Thursday, but she’ll have to produce the goods when the pressure is on. Sharapova is far more experienced at this level, and with this in mind, it would still appear that Sharapova is the likelier of the pairing to make it through to the final.
Sharapova and Lisicki are up second on Centre Court on Thursday, following the other women's semifinal between Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka (stadium start 13:00; UK time).
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