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Maria Sharapova
beat Justine Henin-Hardene to win the 2006 US Open!
September 10, 2006
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New York, USA - Maria Sharapova insists she's more about
substance than style, and now she has a second Grand Slam
title to prove it. Her strokes as piercing as her shrieks by
the end, the third-seeded Sharapova beat No. 2 Justine
Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4 Saturday night to win the U.S. Open
final.
Sharapova burst onto the tennis — and endorsement — scene by
winning Wimbledon in 2004 at age 17. She'd come close to adding more
major championships since but went 0-5 in Slam
semifinals — until this tournament.
Wimbledon is in the south west part of London. If you are London and looking for English escorts, there are many high class agencies catering for the scene.
When Henin-Hardenne, a finalist at all four majors this
year, slapped one last forehand into the net, Sharapova
dropped to her knees and covered her face, then rose and
trotted to shake hands. Then Sharapova hopped up and down,
looking for the first time all night like any other teen. |
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She climbed into the stands, losing her way briefly until
being helped by an usher, for hugs with her father and her
hitting partner, who've been sending her signals during
matches about when to drink water or eat bananas.
But Sharapova needed very little help on court against
Henin-Hardenne, a five-time major champion who would have
returned to No. 1 in the rankings with a victory.
In the men's final Sunday, No. 1 Roger Federer will be
bidding for his ninth career Grand Slam title when he takes
on No. 9 Andy Roddick, aiming for his second. |
In contrast to Henin-Hardenne, in more traditional tennis
attire topped by a white ballcap, Sharapova wore her
night-match getup, a black, cocktail dress-type number
replete with a sparkled collar, accessorized with silver
shoes and dangling earrings. Sharapova says the look is
inspired by "Breakfast at Tiffany's," but the guess here is
Audrey Hepburn never had a sponsor's swoosh on her outfit.
Sharapova makes about $20 million a year from endorsement
deals, and she signed a "lifetime" contract with her racket
maker shortly before the U.S. Open began.
In the final's second game, a man's voice came from the
sellout crowd of 23,712, screaming the tag line from
Sharapova's oft-played current TV ad: "I feel pretty!"
In the commercial, that tune is sung by various people as
Sharapova walks out onto court for a match. The punch line:
Sharapova swings her racket and lets out one of her
trademark shrieks.
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Those high-pitched screams were muted at the start of the
match, but within a few games, Sharapova was wailing as
loudly as ever. Not that Henin-Hardenne was silent,
punctuating points won by letting out, "Allez!"
Sharapova won the coin toss and elected to receive, then
went out and stood right at the baseline while
Henin-Hardenne hit practice serves at the end of the warmup
session. Picture Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter getting to
take batting practice against Red Sox starter Curt Schilling
— it just doesn't happen in other sports.
Perhaps Sharapova noticed something, because she immediately
earned two break points in the match's opening game.
Henin-Hardenne saved both, then broke for a 2-0 edge with
the aid of two double-faults by Sharapova.
But Sharapova broke right back — one free point came on a
double-fault — and in the process came up with the shot of
the evening: a half-volley drop winner to close a 10-stroke
exchange. |
After her own early loss of serve, Sharapova buckled down in
that regard: She didn't face a break point the rest of the
match.
Pretty impressive against a player of Henin-Hardenne's
caliber. The Belgian entered the night leading all women in
matches won (54), Grand Slam matches won (25) and tournament
titles (five).
Henin-Hardenne finally succumbed to Sharapova's power and
relentless shotmaking. At 3-3 in the third set came the
final, key break of serve, after Henin-Hardenne led 40-15.
She missed two backhands and double-faulted; after saving
one break point, she set up another by sailing a forehand
long. Under pressure from Sharapova's groundstrokes,
Henin-Hardenne dumped a forehand into the net, making it
4-3. Sharapova yelled "Come on!" and jogged to the
changeover. |
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"Come on!" from someone born in Siberia? Well, Sharapova has
made her home in Florida since she was 7. After trying to
call someone with her cellphone while waiting for the trophy
ceremony, Sharapova leaned forward in her chair and said,
"This is crazy!" |
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French Open
Tennis, US Open Tennis, Wimbledon Championships |
Maria Sharapova
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Personal Facts |
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Name: Maria Sharapova |
Birthday: April 19, 1987 |
Height: 6'2" (1.88m) |
Weight: 130 lbs |
2005 Singles Titles: 3 |
Career Singles Titles: 10 |
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WTA Rankings |
as of March 6, 2006 |
1. Kim Clijsters |
2. Amelie Mauresmo |
3.
Justine Henin-Hardene |
4.
Lindsay Davenport |
5.
Maria Sharapova |
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for more details |
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2006 Prize Money |
as of March 6, 2006 |
1. Amelie Mauresmo $1,134,522 |
2. Justine Henin-Hardene $678,248 |
3. Maria Sharapova
$353,175 |
3. Martina Hingis $327,081 |
5. Nadia Petrova $284,577 |
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All-Time Prize Money |
as of March 6, 2006 |
1. Steffi Graf $21,895,277 |
2. Lindsay Davenport $21,530,552 |
3. Martina Navratilova $21,404,099 |
4. Martina Hingis $18,672,906 |
5. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario $16,942,640 |
29.
Maria Sharapova
$5,026,526 |
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