Maria Sharapova will face off against #8 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the Women’s Wimbledon final on Saturday. Kvitova was able to get nine aces on her way to a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 victory over No. 4 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
For Sharapova, her seven-year gap between Wimbledon finals appearances is the longest for a woman in the open era which began in 1968.
“I’m in a different stage in my career. I’m 24 years old. I have a lot of experience behind my back,” said Sharapova, who hasn’t lost a set during the tournament. “But I’m still playing tennis.”
Kvitova, who wasn’t able to get past last year’s Wimbledon semifinals, is the first left handed female competitor to make it to a Grand Slam final since Monica Seles at the 1998 French Open. If she were to win on Saturday, she would become the first female lefty to win since 1990 when Martina Navratilova won her ninth title.
“There’s been so few women lefties that were good,” Navratilova said. “For Petra, I think the key’s always been to minimize those streaks of bad play. She’s very streaky.”
Sharapova goes into the final a heavy favorite. Experience also plays into the favor of Sharapova who will be playing in her fifth major title while the 21 year old Kvitova will be playing in her first. Sharapova will seek her 24th career title and Kvitova will look for her fifth.
“Experience is an incredible asset,” Sharapova said, “because you feel like you’ve been through many different situations.”
Source: SI.com, Associated Press