Dominika Cibulkova v Maria Sharapova – live! | Evan Fanning

• Hit F5 to refresh or turn on the automatic widget below • Email your thoughts and chat to evanfanning@gmail.com • Follow our daily live blog from SW19 • Follow Evan on Twitter, if that’s your thing Second set: Cibulkova* 1-6, 1-3 Sharapova And Sharapova breaks straight back. Oh dear. All that hope gone in a few shoddy serves. Second set: Cibulkova 1-6, 1-2 Sharapova* Cibulkova has broken Sharapova. There has been a definite improvement from the Slovakian in the last couple of game and that will give her some belief that she might be able to force her way back into this game. She can’t, of course, but it’s no harm if she thinks she can for a little bit at least. “Marvellous to see that Sharipova has mastered the art of playing tennis while juggling the moon in one hand (see pic),” writes Mihai Cucos. “Has she become a Hindu goddess?” Well if she has she needs to get back focusing on her game. there’s a time and a place for Hindu goddesses but Centre Court on a rainy Tuesday is not it. Although it would be a lot better than Cliff Richard I suppose. Second set: Cibulkova* 1-6, 0-2 Sharapova It’s a good game from Cibulkova – the best she’s played in this match – but it’s still not enough. In a game that lasted eight minutes Sharapova seemed to be able to reach all areas of the court and return in devastating fashion. Four times Sharapova has break point and it’s an escape act too many fir Cibulkova who has not one a game since the opening game of the match. “Come on,” Sharapova shouts after the winning point. She may have been directing it at Cibulkova. Second set: Cibulkova 1-6, 0-1 Sharapova* Sharapova holds service with ease. On BBC they reckon Cibulkova needs to find a Plan B. I reckon she’s searching for Plan X or Y at this stage. They’re about the start the first of the other quarter-finals on Court One. At least they think they are but we know that a great big rain cloud is heading straight for them. Maria Sharapova wins the first set 6-1. The Slovakian gets appears to get a foothold in the game taking a 40-love lead on her service before Sharapova comes storming back to take the game and the set. The final point was loose and wild from Cibulkova who needs to sort herself out in the next couple of minutes otherwise this is going to be over very, very shortly indeed. This is brilliant from Sharapova. First set: Cibulkova 1-5 Sharapova* Cibulkova moves into a position where she has two break points – they’re almost handed to her by Sharapova who seems so determined to diominate that she is looking to blast her opponent into submission when at times, some subtelty might be the best approach. Needless to say Sharapova wins the next four points and takes the game. After watching Sharapova beat laura Robson I made her my choice to win Wimbledon. Then, for some unknown reason, I went and put money on Caroline Wozniacki. I’m regretting my actions now. Not just in terms of the bet – pretty much all my life-choices have been dubious. First set: Cibulkova* 1-4 Sharapova The problem with Cibulkova’s strategy is that Sharapova is looking stronger than her in a rally as well as the serve. Cibulkova takes a 30-love lead by Sharapova won’t led it slide and storms back – with one point-winning backhand particularly devastating – and Cibulkova flounders and loses the game with a double-fault. First set: Cibulkova 1-3 Sharapova* Sharapova wins to love and it may not be jumping the gun to say that Cibulkova is in a bit of trouble. There’s a clear gulf between the two at the moment. If you are a fan of groaning in tennis then this is the match for you. The roof is closed so the acoustics are making every grunt echo through the arena. It wouldn’t sound any better in the Royal Opera House. Trickier to play tennis there though. First set: Cibulkova* 1-2 Sharapova First break of the match and it’s fairly comfortable for Sharapova. A real pattern for the game is already emerging. Cibulkova lacks the serve to cause Sharapova too many problems and is aiming to do her damage with powerful ground strokes. They’re not powerful enough at the moment and the No5 seed is returning with interest. First set: Cibulkova 1-1 Sharapova* Sharapova has a clear height advantage – she’s 6ft 2in facing Cibulkova who is just 5ft 3in – and that tells in her first service game which she wins easily losing just one point courtesy of an unforced error. First set: Cibulkova* 1-0 Sharapova If the first point of this game is anything to go by we could be here for a while. There are gasps as Cibulkova takes a tumble which allows Sharapova to take the point after a 22-stroke rally. The Slovakian clambers to her feet and recovers to hold serve. “Does anyone know if women tennis players do beep tests?” wonders gary Naylor. “I was very impressed by La Lisicki last Thursday who looked very strong indeed in defeating Li Na 8-6 in the third and she lasted much better than Ms Bartoli today. Of course shotmaking matters, but I’m surprised that so many female players seem to fade after 90 minutes or so of a match. Women don’t when running the marathon.” Answers to the usual address. Another insight into the world of super-rich sports people … Rory McIlroy has just turned the tennis court in his house into a five-a-side football pitch. Decisions, decisions. Celebrity watch … No Wills and Kate today but Rory McIlroy is here. Ever wondered what famous sportspeople talk about when they meet? Here’s a snapshot of the conversation between McIlroy and Andy Murray when they met at the practice grounds earlier on. Murray to McIlroy, who is wearing a sharp suit: “You look good.” McIlroy: “Yeah, well, you know.” It’s like something from an Evelyn Waugh novel out there. Preamble Fear not, just like at Centre Court there is now a roof on Guardian Towers so I will be able to bring you full game-by-game coverage of this enticing match despite the Day After Tomorrow-style downpour that has engulfed London this afternoon. It’s a tough slog on the women’s tennis circuit. While their male counterparts get a day off, sitting at home or in their hotel quaffing copious amounts of energy drinks in the belief that they actually do any good. Meanwhile, the women barely have time for a cup of tea as they are back in action today in the quarter-finals just 24 houurs after their fourth-round matches. One of the most intriguing of the day’s matches is between fifth-seed Maria Sharapova and 24th-seed Dominika Cibulkova, who beat world No1 Caroline Wozniacki on Monday. Given that Serena and venus Williams are on the plance home Sharapova is now firm favourite to win a title she last won in 2004. Incidentally if Sharapova can go all the way she will join an illustrious group to have won the title more than once. That seven-year gap between titles would put Sharapova behind only Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1971 and 1980) as an Open era player with the longest gap between Wimbledon titles. But first she has to defeat Cibulkova. And then the winner or Marion Bartoli and Sabine Lisicki. And then whoever she may meet in Saturday’s final. So let’s not get ahead of ourselves. These two have met four time previosuly, with the record at two wins apiece. The last time they played was in Madrid earlier this year where Cibulkova won 7-5, 6-4. Wimbledon 2011 Maria Sharapova Wimbledon Tennis Evan Fanning guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 28, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.