Well, it´s not a big deal to back the currently best player in the world. Her run in 2008 is really impressive, I would say Federer-like: 18 wins in 18 games with only 3 lost sets (Bondarenko, Zvonareva, Voskoboeva), so far she has won 133 games more than her opponents (233: 97), that means 7(!) games per match, something like 6-3, 6-2. Against top players the record is: + 10 vs. Dementieva, + 8 vs. Henin, + 8 vs. Jankovic, + 7 vs. Zvonareva, + 6 vs. Hantuchova, + 5 vs. Radwanska, + 5 vs. Ivanovic, so she covered easily the handicap against the Top-ten players.

Today she plays against another world-class player, Svetlana Kuznetsova, finalist in Indian Wells last year and currently No. 3 in the Rankings. Kuzi has 13-4 so far in 2008 (losses against Dementieva, Bammer, Radwanska and Henin), she defeated only Jankovic in three sets in Dubai (if we count only Top10-players). So, if we look at the Race-Rankings for 2008, we see Sharapova on top with 1465 points (2 tourn.), Kuznetsova is 9. with 560 points (4).

I must admit, Maria doesn´t look so unvulnerable as she was in Melbourne and Svetlana played really good so far in IW, but I can not imagine that she can win more than one set, they know each other very well, H2H is 4-3 for Maria, she has won 4 out of last 5. Kuznetsova is a good player, but not good enough for Sharapova. I hope for another final with the beauty-queens, Maria and Ana, although a healthy and fit Jelena will be a high obstacle.

Pick : Sharapova -3
Odds : 1.83
Stake : 8 / 10
Bookmaker : SportingBet
Date : 2008-03-21
Match Result :
Tipster Personal Link/Sponsor:

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