Wimbledon 2011 Live: Maria Sharapova and Sabine Lisicki through to Semi-finals

Sabine Lisicki: In the last Four

Sabine Lisicki played an outstanding Tennis match against French Marion Bartoli to march into the ladies’ semi finals at Wimbledon 2011. Bartoli was the favorite going into the match but the German kept her foot on the pedal from beginning to end. The match was stretched to three long and hard fought sets. Bartoli’s eccentric style on the court made the match even more enjoyable as the centre court saw the match of the competition so far. The match was emotionally charged through-out with both players punching the air and clinching fists after every point.

Bartoli was certainly heavy on her ground strokes and with the great amount of power she put into her shots, it was only justified that she fell out of thunder in the third set. At one point of time, there was no strength left in either of the participants to win two points consecutively in order to settle a deuce. It can be safely said that what separated the two players eventually was the drop shots made by Lisicki. For most part of the game, she pulled off every drop shot. Lisicki won atleast 15 points using the drop shot within the first two sets. This explains the vast difference in the winners of the two ladies. On the other hand, Bartoli was found relying on unforced errors made by Lisicki.

In the third set, Bartoli was evidently running out of steam. She could not penetrate any of Lisicki’s service games and found it hard to hold on to her own. Lisicki wrapped up the match eventually with 6-4, 6-7, 6-1. While the two players contested the match for a berth in the semi-final, it was pouring hard on the center court roof. The match was certainly very enjoyable for those who witnessed it. The sporting hug at the end of the match was an indication of mutual respect. After all, a good Tennis match is not just the product of the victor.

Lisicki had suffered a terrible injury and her rehabilitation took a life’s-effort. The fact that she stood on the grass court contesting a match at Wimbledon was a miracle in itself. She will face Maria Sharapova in the semi-final. Sharapova made it to the semi-final in straight sets and personified wrath in her quarter-final match. The Russian was relentless and finished the game against Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 6-1.