Don’t mess with the truck – Sharapova pancakes Hingis

In second set of Maria Sharapova’s 6-3, 6-3, semifinal victory over Martina Hingis here at Indian Wells, a spectator sitting behind Sharapova yelled out, “Martina, she’s getting tired,” referring to Sharapova. In response, Sharapova said, “I looked back at them and I’m like, tired, my butt. So don’t mess with a truck. You’re going to become a pancake.”

That spectator might have been working for Hingis because that was her game plan: to stay in the point and hit topspin loopers until Sharapova got tired. “I’m not going to hit winners out of that, but just make her tired. Then wait for my opportunities,” Hingis said after the match.

Sharapova adjusted her game to Hingis rather than the other way around

Her first opportunity came in the third game in the second set. Sharapova hit three unforced errors to give Hingis two break points. On the first one, Hingis had Sharapova on the run but hit the putaway shot, a swinging backhand volley, into the net. With more match experience, that’s a shot she’ll make most of the time. Luckily, another Sharapova error gave Hingis her break and they were back on serve.

At 2-4, Hingis got two more opportunities and made two more mistakes. With another break point, she hit a routine ball smack dab in the middle of the court. Sharapova said thank you very much and hit an inside out forehand winner. On the second break point, Hingis had Sharapova on the run but she tried to hit a winner from an awkward position and hit it wide. Two break points and two mental errors.

Sharapova obliged her with yet another error and they were back on serve yet again but it was just a hiccup. After taking a medical time out for a blister on her foot, how much you wanna bet she’d doesn’t take that break if she’d won that last game?, Sharapova returned to pancake mode. She won the last two games handily to get to the final and an opportunity to win her first tournament in nine months.

When I first heard that Hingis was returning to the tour, I worried about her lack of power and her ability to focus on tennis day in and day out after three years of sleeping in late. Obviously her focus is fine, from nowhere her ranking is now in the 30’s, but she doesn’t smack the ball like Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva. She’s not concerned about it. “I don’t like always the power thing. That’s not intimidating any more. …You know, it’s more of the placement now that she was really was dictating right/left, right left…”

Which is true. That is what Sharapova did. And there’s evidence in this match that Sharapova adjusted her game to Hingis rather than the other way around. I’ve seldom seen Sharapova hit so many approach shots and swinging volleys. Anything to avoid being picked apart by the “cerebral assassin” as Bruce Schoenfeld of Tennis Magazine calls his favorite tennis player. People have been harping on Sharapova to add some diversity to her game for a long time but it tooks Hingis’ return to make her do it. Hingis should take credit for that. It’s a sign of respect.

But Hingis should also renew her membership to Gold’s Gym. Hingis held her serve exactly three times. Much of that was due to Sharapova’s aggressive play but I periodically tracked Hingis’ second serve speed and only twice did it get above 80 mph and those two were 81 and 83 mph. Watching Elena Dementieva serve this week, or any week for that matter, I might live to regret this but I just don’t think that’s enough in today’s game to win a major. For sure, it’s a good bet she can make the top ten – notice how I’m changing my tune here from January now that I’ve seen her play for a few months – but I’ll be surprised if she gets a slam

I’m warming to Sharapova. She’s a charmer and she has a very good sense of herself. Here she is the sex symbol and main draw for the WTA and she doesn’t find it frustrating that she hasn’t won a title in nine months. “No, it’s not. Not frustrating at all. …I’m very happy to be one of the most consistent players. At my age and at my level at this point, I think that’s great.” That’s a pretty healthy statement.

Just don’t get in her way when the truck is rolling.