Maria Sharapova To Last 16 at Australian Open, Has Near Miss With Julia Goerges

Maria Sharapova has had service problems for a little while now, but when the chips were on the line in her third-round encounter with Julia Goerges at the Australian Open, she kept her biggest weakness in check.

Sure, the No. 14 seed had 11 unforced errors in her 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory, but with the exception of the shoddy serving in the opener, she was really very good. No serve summed up her performance more emphatically than a inch-perfect ace out wide at 40-15 to book her place in the Round of 16.

Yes, she had her problems against a real up-and-comer, but Sharapova fought hard and served big when it mattered most. She served out the second set at 5-4 to tie the match at a set apiece and she did the same at the end of the third after seeing Goerges come back from 0-4 down to cut the deficit to 4-5.

Sharapova missed more than half of her first serves in that shaky first set and Goerges took advantage with a barrage of heavy ground strokes to the tune of 13 winners. Sharapova’s double faults, which are now up to 23 for the tournament, came in bunches, but it wasn’t just the messy ball toss that was to blame.

While it certainly disrupted her rhythm on serve, Sharapova just wasn’t hitting through the ball. Goerges was tracking everything down and out-hitting her from the baseline and it was obvious that Sharapova needed to do more to survive.

That started with the serve, and Sharapova looked much more comfortable in the second set, nailing five aces and hitting 18 winners. Such was the improvement, Goerges did not even have a break point in the second set, which lasted a tick under an hour and could have gone either way. Once Sharapova got up a break at 3-2 though, she did seem like a world-beater out there, even if every fist clench seemed to subdue nervous tension.

Sharapova, now squealing at an alarming rate, had forced her way into a one-set shootout for a Sweet 16 berth and she took the decisive step by breaking the German in the very first game. She consolidated the break and then broke again. A service hold later and she was two games away from the victory.

At 4-0, it looked like a done deal, as Goerges seemed to have ran out of energy and fight, but to her credit, Goerges played some of her best tennis in those final six games to get the score to 4-5.

Both players tore shreds off the ball, hitting winner after winner as if trying to one-up their adversary. In the heat of the battle, Goerges boomed a 30-15 serve down to the Sharapova backhand, only to see the ball flying straight past her, seemingly faster than it left her own racket. Goerges didn’t even move, save to purse her lips, nod her head and tap her racket in a sporting gesture of appreciation.

Sharapova, who dropped just four points on her first serve in the deciding set, closed the match out with another solid error-free service game, and she deserves credit for a solid display after a miserable first set.

Both players do.

Goerges played her part beautifully, and if it wasn’t for that little bit of extra class Sharapova brought to the table down the stretch, she could be in the last 16 herself.

But take heed. Sharapova didn’t serve that well that she is a lock to win her next match. A better returner, especially on the second serve, will batter Sharapova when she tenses up. Sharapova has 23 double faults. No other woman has more than 16. It has been her own return game—and her ability to convert break point opportunities, especially—that has kept her in matches.

The Russian is known for going for the big shots at all stages of the game, but if she tries to be too perfect against another top player, like a Na Li, a Venus Williams, a Francesca Schiavone or a Caroline Wozniacki (all of whom are in her half of the draw), she will be packing her bags to go home.

Consistency and well-timed aggression is critical for Sharapova moving forward. We all know that, but it’s easier said than done.

She dodged a bullet on Friday. She may not be so fortunate next time.