French Open Women’s Final Open Thread: Serena Williams v Maria Sharapova

by Staff | June 8th, 2013, 7:19 am
  • 16 Comments

Two of the most popular women’s sporting athelets in the world meet this afternoon for the French Open title. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova both commonly seek a second French Open title.

Serena leads his Russian rival 13-2 winning 12 straight and all three meetings on clay. Sharapova hasn’t beaten Serena since 2004.

WTA Notes:


The final features world No.1 Serena Williams vs. world No.2Maria Sharapova…
…it is the first No.1 vs. No.2 final at ROLAND GARROS since 1995 (No.2 Graf d. No.1 Sanchez-Vicario 75 46 60)
…it is the first No.1 vs. No.2 final at ANY SLAMsince 2004 Australian Open (No.1 Henin d. No.2 Clijsters 63 46 63)

In the Open Era, the No.1 seed has won the title at Roland Garros 16 times; the No.2 seed has won 12 times.

In the Open Era, the Top 2 seeds havemet in the final 11 times, with the No.2 seed winning 7 times (most recently 1995).

In the last 20 years (1994 onwards), the top seed has won the Roland Garros title twice: Graf (1996) and Henin (2007).

This compares to eight times at the Australian Open, six times at Wimbledon and five times at the US Open.

Players representing 15 different countries have won the title at Roland Garros. Williams is the first American through to the Roland Garros final since she defeated sister Venus in the 2002 final.

Williams (2002) and Sharapova (2012) are former Roland Garros champions. The winner will be the 8th player in Open Era to win multiple Roland Garros titles.

Williams is competing in her 20th career Grand Slam final (15-4 in F) and is the fourth woman in the Open Era to have reached 20 Grand Slamfinals. Sharapova is playing in her eighth (4-3 in F).

This will be the 4th time the current world No.1 and No.2 hav emet head-to-head this year. From 2005-2011 the Top 2 met head-to-head a total of three times. Since the start of 2012, this will be the eighth No.1 vs. No.2 meeting.

Among active players, Williams owns the most match wins at Roland Garros (45), while Sharapova owns the
best match win percentage at Roland Garros (.827).

[1] SERENA WILLIAMS (USA #1) vs. [2] MARIA SHARAPOVA (RUS #2)
Williams leads 13-2 (Hard: 8-1; Clay: 3-0; Grass: 2-1)

Serena…
Currently on a career-best 30-match win streak (incl. SF here).

Contesting her 20th career Grand Slam final. Owns a 15-4 win-loss record in Grand Slam finals. Her only losses have come at 2001 US Open (l. V.Williams), 2004 Wimbledon (l. Sharapova), 2008 Wimbledon (l. V.Williams) and 2011 US Open (l. Stosur)

Playing her 2nd career Roland Garros final. Won the title on her final debut here in 2002 (d. V.Williams)

Bidding to become only the fourth woman in the Open Era to win each Grand Slam at least twice (Evert, Graf, Navratilova)

This is her 68th career singles final. She owns a 50-16 win-loss record (with one of her 51 titles coming via walkover)

Owns 8 career claycourt titles (is 8-2 in claycourt finals). Bidding to improve to equal second for most claycourt titles among active players (Medina Garrigues – 10, V.Williams – 9).

Sharapova…
Contesting her eighth career Grand Slam final (4-3 record). Her three losses came at: 2007 Australian Open (l. S.Williams), 2011 Wimbledon (l. Kvitova), 2012 Australian Open (l. Azarenka).

Playing her second career Roland Garros final, as defending champion. Bidding to become first player to defend title at Roland Garros since Henin in 2007.

Currently on a 13 match winning streak at this tournament.

Has become first player since Schiavone to reach back-to-back Roland Garros singles finals (2010-11), and eleventh player in the Open Era to advance to the final in the year of their title defense.

In the Open Era, five players have defended their Roland Garros title on 10 occasions.

SATURDAY FRENCH OPEN SCHEDULE
3:00 PM Start Time
1. Women’s Singles – Final
Serena Williams (USA)[1] v. Maria Sharapova (RUS)[2]
2. Men’s Doubles – Final
Bob Bryan (USA)[1] v. Michael Llodra (FRA)
Mike Bryan (USA)[1] Nicolas Mahut (FRA)

WEATHER.COM PARIS FORECAST
High of 77F, late day showers.

BET AT HOME ODDS
Serena Williams 1.15 vs Maria Sharapova 5.00

US TV SCHEDULE
NBC will have live coverage of the match starting at 9am ET.


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16 Comments for French Open Women’s Final Open Thread: Serena Williams v Maria Sharapova

Kimberly Says:

I will write a post here just to make sure this thread isn’t empty. Does anyone think this will be anything other than a total blowout?


Tennis x hippy chic Says:

Kimberly in answer to your question in a word no,sorry as i know your a Sharapova fan,Maria looks brilliant against everyone else,but against Serena she looks completely lost like a sitting duck,ATM IMO Serena looks just awesome unbeatable,not just here at the FO but everywhere,and the scarey thing is she hasnt even had to hit top gear,and this is not considered her best surface either,ominous signs IMO.


Tennis x hippy chic Says:

Good news too is Delpos also fit to play Queens,along with JWT,Cilic,Hewitt,Berdych,so its a great field,and a good tourney for players to get in some GC practice,and Andy will be fresh and ready to go,IMO glad common sense has prevailed and Rafas pulled out of Halle,he needs a break after the FO.


Viz Says:

Kimberly and Tennis x hippy chic, I’m afraid I think it will be another dominant show by Serena – not quite an annihilation like the semi, but straight sets. She’s just too focused this year. Maria will go down fighting though.

That’s great news about Delpo playing Queens. I’ll be interested to see what sort of shape Andy’s in. I’d really like him to win Wimbledon this year, even at Rafa’s expense.

I’m a bit surprised Rafa’s skipping Halle, as I would think he would need the GC tune-up. I can’t imagine Halle are too pleased either; didn’t he sign a multi-year megabucks deal with them a couple of years ago?


Tennis x hippy chic Says:

Viz Andys my second favorite after Rafa,and as a Brit i would love him to win the Wimbldon trophy,or Rafa.


Viz Says:

Me too, I just think the whole of the UK could breathe a huge sigh of relief and we would never have to hear the name Fred Perry again!


Cena Says:

Hey, I am surprised by Maria’s game today. Tell me, is Serena focused or …


James Says:

Cena, Maria showed more fight today than she usually does against Serena. Not as bad as we thought.

Well deserved win, Serena!


contador Says:

Saw absolutely no reason to watch the match.

How many times have I seen Serena win… and there it is. No way do I hate Serena, I just have no interest in a Serena v Maria match – really and truly.

Can’t even bring myself to congratulate Serena at this point. More impressed with her winning a challenging first round than a final. What would be far more interesting about Serena at this point would be – not her tennis – but settling down in nice Paris digs with Patrick Mourtagolou. Or actually breaking up with him. Anything other than hearing about her tennis winnings would be refreshing and a relief. lol Same goes for Federer and Nadal. hahahaha And that is truly how I look at it. So, I am weird. Just can’t stand what I call OTT sports Kitsch. Maria is over-rated and commercialized – but if she keeps winning for the next decade, she will begin to catch up with the hype around her.


andrea Says:

it is a little sad that there are no postings, but everyone has summed it up here. did anyone really think maria would beat serena?


jane Says:

Contador, same re: not watching the match. Just checked scores and saw that Maria actually kept it closer than I thought, but still.


The Great Davy Says:

WTA is for girls!


tennisfansince76 Says:

hmmm should i get up at 6 AM to watch Serena vs. Maria. who won? not sure Nadal vs. Ferrer merits a 6 AM start to the day either.


contador Says:

Well, jane

I do recall how interesting in Venus and Serena winning tennis matches I was in the at the turn of the century and shortly after, as I grab my cigar and rock back in my rocking chair, ready to reminisce.

At this point OVER a decade later, I am only gripped by news of how they move on in life. Yes interested in them (Serena and Venus) but have to admit tired of their dominating in the WTA.

Even when they entered the tennis stage, while I marveled at them on one hand, I had a flicker of dread mixed with awe on the other hand, knowing myself and how it could all backfire after ten years and would be longing for say, a Petra Kvitova or Sloane Stephens to whip them…

It is sport. Competition is necessary – well, for me. Though in the case of a favorite, I have more tolerance for domination and what entertainment domination brings. But I have to say domination in sport has a much shorter shelf life of “impressive” than a competitive field.


contador Says:

not interesting in but “interested in” ^^^^

I see my typing a grammar skills are still damaged by the men’s semi-final frustration of yesterday.

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