All-Russian Final At Rogers Cup in Toronto

Maria Sharapova will face Elena Dementieva in the 2009 Rogers Cup final, making it an all-Russian event.  I hope you got to catch the semifinals because they were extremely interesting, especially the match between Dementieva and Serena Williams.

Williams just couldn’t get it together and grew increasingly frustrated with every error she made.  Meanwhile, Dementieva was the picture of composure, which allowed her to overcome a 5-3 deficit in the first set.  After losing to Williams in the semis at Wimbledon, I wasn’t surprised at all by the Russian’s focus.  “I was really waiting for this match after Wimbledon,” Dementieva said.  “It’s always very interesting to play against Serena, and I was looking for revenge after Wimbledon. I was very positive on the court, and very satisfied with the way I was playing.”

After committing 36 unforced errors, Williams said: “I can’t say I was especially feeling the fire.  Obviously you want to do well, and I always really want to do well. Honestly, I think I could have and should have won, but I didn’t, so . . . it is what it is… I really probably should have won the first set, which probably would have (led to) a different result.  But I didn’t. I started making a lot of errors (on) key shots I should have made.”

In the other semifinal game, Sharapova pulled out a victory against Alisa Kleybanova in a match that took two hours and 37 minutes to complete.  “It’s really exciting . . . it’s success by itself,” said Sharapova. “To go out there (Sunday) and play my sixth match is really an accomplishment. Coming back after not playing for a while is always tough, so I’m really grateful that I have a chance to be in another final in my career.”

Now Sharapova and Dementieva will go head-to-head in the final and if I had to place a bet, I’d wager that Sharapova would take the title.  Out of the 10 times that these ladies have battled, Sharapova has won eight times so the odds are overwhelmingly in her favor.  She seems to know exactly how to approach the situation as well: “She’s a grinder,” Sharapova said of Dementieva. “She makes you hit a lot of balls. You really have to be steady with her, and take your opportunities when you get them . . . and most importantly, go out there and execute what your plan is.”

image: TSN