Women’s Field Narrows as Sharapova Schools Bouchard and Makarova Dominates Halep Down Under

Maria Sharapova put on a nearly flawless performance on Tuesday, blowing past seventh-seeded Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-2 to reach the Australian Open semifinals.

In a very highly-anticipated match, Sharapova got things going early. She broke the young Canadian in the opening game and from there the match was hers. She broke again in the ninth game and wrapped the opening set up in 41 minutes.

Sharapova got things going early in the second set with a break in the fourth game and continued to outslug Bouchard. Taking advantage of 30 unforced errors from Bouchard, Sharapova continued to put the vice grip on the match.

Another break later in the second set put Sharapova in a position for match point, and the Russian wasted no time wrapping this one up, closing it on her first match point attempt.

“I knew I had to play a really complete match,” said Sharapova, who did just that. “She’s someone who really goes after it and goes after her strokes, so I knew that the second and third balls would be really important. I knew I had to take time away from her and be aggressive—I wanted to get in the rallies a little bit, but I also wanted to do something on my own first few shots today.”

Bouchard seemed to be playing behind the eight-ball all match long. The early breaks in each set forced her to play from behind and go for her shots, resulting in all those unforced errors.

“I felt under pressure the whole time, a bit on my back foot. That’s not really how I want to play,” said Bouchard. “I feel like I didn’t really start the match off well, and it kind of all went downhill from there. It’s definitely easier when you have a good start to the match. Against great players you have to take every little chance you can get, and although she didn’t really give me many. I know I had some. I’m disappointed I couldn’t do better with those chances.”

Sharapova has looked like the player to beat in Melbourne ever since she saved two match points in her second-round win over fellow Russian Alexandra Panova. In the semis, she will have to beat another Russian, Ekaterina Makarova.

The 10th seeded Makarova steamrolled third-seeded Simona Halep 6-4, 6-0 on Tuesday, reaching her second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal. She stormed out to a double-break lead up 3-0, and even after Halep climbed back to 4-5, Makarova served the set out.

The second set was all Makarova as Halep seemed uninspired. The Russian dominated the frame, taking advantage of 15 unforced errors from Halep to roll 6-0 and move into the final four.

“I was playing my best tennis, so maybe in the second set she was a little bit upset—maybe he didn’t understand what to do,” said Makarova. “But Simona is a great player. She had such a great season last year and can always turn the match around, no matter what the score, so I had to focus.”

Makarova has lost all five previous meetings to Sharapova, and realizes the challenge that lies ahead.

“Well, I’ve never beaten her, so it will be tough,” said Makarova. “She’s definitely a great fighter—like here in the second round she almost lost the match but turned it around. But I’m really looking forward to it. I want to go out there and enjoy it this time.”