We didn’t see that coming,… probably that applies to Maria Sharapova also.
The world no.2 was in ominous form to be the overwhelming favorite in her Australian Open 2nd round against world no.150 Alexandra Panova. Things looked even easier for Maria after the Russian beauty won the first set 6-1 without breaking a sweat. Then everything changed. Alexandra started to play amazing tennis to win the 2nd set and lead the third 4-1 (2 breaks up) 40-15…!!! Then Maria went in a “die hard mode” to save 2 match points when she was 4-5 down and bring the match home 6-1, 4-6 7-5.
Sharapova: I wasn’t in the present
“I thought my process through the match to the 5-4 game was pretty negative. I think I was dwelling too much on my mistakes and what I was doing wrong, and not really being in the present, something that I’m usually really good at.
At that point when you’re behind, you feel like you’re making a lot of errors and don’t have a good rhythm out there, but I really just kept trying to take it one point at a time, think positively, and change my thought process a little bit out there. When other things aren’t working, maybe the mental side of things will help you out.”
| SECOND TO NOBODY IN WILLPOWER |
