As reported in the Straits Times ...
LONDON - Confirming her reputation as
the biggest new star in the game, 17-year-old Maria Sharapova
rallied from a set and 1-3 down yesterday to beat former champion
Lindsay Davenport and advance to the Wimbledon final.
Playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final, the Russian teen hit a
stunning 46 winners - 20 more than Davenport - to overcome the 1999
champion 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.
She became the second youngest woman to reach the Wimbledon final
and the first Russian woman to make it so far since Olga Morozova
lost to Chris Evert in 1974.
Tomorrow, she will meet the winner of the second semi-final between
two-time defending champion Serena Williams and Amelie
Mauresmo.
'It's unbelievable, crazy and I think I am going to cry,' said the
blonde. 'I was a set down but I just kept believing in
myself.'
It was a memorable fightback by the Russian girl who was completely
outplayed by Davenport in the first set and a half and, had the
rain not forced the players off with the 28-year-old American
leading 2-1 in the second set, Sharapova may well have capitulated
quickly.
But under bright sunshine, the 13th seed sparked her miraculous
comeback to move into the final, the second youngest to do so
behind Martina Hingis, who achieved the feat on her way to the
title in 1997.
Davenport, who was playing her 15th Grand Slam semi-final,
dominated from the outset, breaking her opponent in the first game
and again in the seventh before wrapping up the first set in just
25 minutes.
She gave up just six points on her service, dictating the points
from the baseline with her deep, flat strokes.
It was more of the same in the second set with the fifth-seeded
American breaking for the early advantage. The match turned
Sharapova's way after a 52-minute rain delay in the second set,
with Davenport leading 2-1.
After the American held for 3-1, Sharapova won 12 of the next 16
points to go up 4-3. She never trailed again.
With her trademark grunt now operating at maximum volume - it had
previously been recorded at 86.3 decibels, the same as a
high-revving motorcycle - she held off a break point to go
6-5.
Davenport took the set to a tie-break but the Russian seized her
chance to level the tie on her third set point with a blistering
backhand drive down the line after 80 minutes.
By this stage, Sharapova was well on top. Davenport, who was also
runner-up in 2000, was broken in the opening game of the final set
when she hit an untidy forehand long and then slipped 0-2 behind in
the next game.
It could have been 0-3 had Sharapova converted another break point
but Davenport clung on.
However, on her next service game, the American watched a 136kmh
forehand return roar past her and she knew the match was slipping
away as the Russian found herself 4-1 in front.
She held at love in the next game and then broke a demoralised
Davenport, who has three Grand Slam titles but has not been in a
major final since losing to Venus Williams in the US Open final in
2000, to end the contest.
After hitting a running backhand winner to set up match point,
Sharapova stroked a deep return and Davenport pushed a forehand
long.
The Russian looked up at the sky, covered her mouth in amazement
and waved and blew kisses to all corners of the Centre Court
stadium, as she realised a lifelong dream.
Born in Siberia, she found herself in Florida at age seven with her
father and a paltry US$700.
Her mother, unable to get a visa, had to stay in Russia.
'The move to the US was an amazing sacrifice,' she said.
It has finally paid off. -- AFP
Hurray x 2 .... 
jia you jia you 
