1. Ana Ivanovic - SRB
2. Jelena Jankovic - SRB
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova - RUS
4. Maria Sharapova - RUS
5. Serena Williams - USA

Maria Sharapova	7	6	2
Dinara Safina	6	7	6

Maria loses in Hong Kong

January 5th, 2008

23 Comments

Posted by: Marco

Maria lost the final in Hong Kong to #4 seed Venus Williams of the United States by the score of 4-6 3-6 in 80 minutes in sweltering heat at Victoria Park.

Maria talking about the match: "When your opponent is serving big and serving consistently well you really have to take your chances on opportunities you have on second serves which I think I did a poor job on.� When I did get those opportunities on second serve I made errors or gave her an easy ball. Other than that I thought that I did a good job on my serve when she was trying to attack, I thought I did a good job at handling that.

The tournament and preparations for the Australian Open: "I have been happy with what I have done while I have been here. It is always good to get a few matches and I have had four matches in the last week.� This is probably one of the greatest preparations you can get and now with a good week of training in Australia I definitely think that I can be ready."

Maria will now take 1 week off to prepare for the 1st Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open which begins on January 14th.

Maria Fan Jan 05, 2008 at 13:01

too bad, but you'll take the next title, dont ya? ;)

zorang Jan 05, 2008 at 13:46

Hong Kong 2008

Maria do something to push away evil of sister Williams and Justine.Every time I watched matches with you and them I saw that even there is big respect and youre serve don"t work on them.Simply stops.In that moment youre serve must be youre biggest weapon.Simply it must be so strong and precise that they took you.I hope this year I will watch great servs, that been anounced on Russian site from 120 mph and I hope even faster and stronger.Against Ana Ivanovic in Madrid you have done breaktrough and pushed away all evilnes that is folowing you.I hope that it will be also against sister Williams and Justine,but i think this factor must be main (enormasly strong and precision serve).So strong that when someone calls afor name Maria Sharapova then it will frost blood in theire vains.Youre play is great that has Madrid shown.All this I wrote because I am your great fan when you lose I feel bad.I wish you best in A.O. with wish that you won it this year.I know that you can do that.I wish you Christmas on our orthodox tradition with massage in serbian because it is imposiable to say it in english.Мир Божији Христос се роди!!!!!And one more time I wish you very best in the new year.

bubbles Jan 05, 2008 at 13:47

neva mind there is always the next 1

zorang Jan 05, 2008 at 13:49

Hong Kong 2008

Maria do something to push away evil of sister Williams and Justine.Every time I watched matches with you and them I saw that even there is big respect and youre serve don"t work on them.Simply stops.In that moment youre serve must be youre biggest weapon.Simply it must be so strong and precise that they took you.I hope this year I will watch great servs, that been anounced on Russian site from 120 mph and I hope even faster and stronger.Against Ana Ivanovic in Madrid you have done breaktrough and pushed away all evilnes that is folowing you.I hope that it will be also against sister Williams and Justine,but i think this factor must be main (enormasly strong and precision serve).So strong that when someone calls afor name Maria Sharapova then it will frost blood in theire vains.Youre play is great that has Madrid shown.All this I wrote because I am your great fan when you lose I feel bad.I wish you best in A.O. with wish that you won it this year.I know that you can do that.I wish you Christmas on our orthodox tradition with massage in serbian because it is imposiable to say it in english. Mir Boziji Hristos se rodi!!!!!And one more time I wish you very best in the new year.

BUBBLES Jan 05, 2008 at 13:58

YOU ARE STILL BRILL AND YOUR F

YOU ARE STILL BRILL AND YOUR FANS STILLL LOVE YOU I CANT WAIT FOR JAN 14TH WHEN THE A OPEN STARTS AND I CANT WAIT TO CU PLAY COME ON MARIA

zorang Jan 05, 2008 at 14:12

Serv for me just one or more times joure serve over 200 km/h.I realy want that you break record of Brenda Schultz and that is 209 km/h.

JD Jan 05, 2008 at 18:09

fuc.k sisters williams , Maria is the best

JD Jan 05, 2008 at 18:17

fuc.k sisters williams , Maria is the best

Wester C. P. de Moraes - Brazil Jan 05, 2008 at 20:10

Masha,
You played the best you could with wisdom!!! The best challenging tournament is just around the corner!!! I wish you the best luck!!
Love,
Wester

Mustafa Bilal Jan 05, 2008 at 20:50

Well Bad luck!
U can Say that.....

But one thing has to say that
She must cover this prob bcoz how many times she will lose this.........

Australian open is arround the corner.......

LOVE MUSTAFA!

laura t�rless Jan 06, 2008 at 00:43

Maria: 366 days, 6 finals, 5 defeats...

Tima Jan 06, 2008 at 08:27

It seems that Maria's afraid of sister Williams because she can't show her best while playing them. I hope it won't be like this because if Maria wants to compete she should realise that probably there woiuld be always Williams in semis or finals and Masha needs to show her best to beat them. She could do it and hopefully will do it again. I wish Maria good luck in A.O. and if she meets Williams or Justin or whoever she will beat them. I hope it will be your season.
Masha come on!!!
Masha davay, mi za tebya boleem!!! Otomsti im vsem.

asia in poland Jan 06, 2008 at 10:00

maria of nothing has become but damage that you have played through . and you are fairest so!!! i love you !

zorang Jan 06, 2008 at 12:35

MIR BO�IJI HRISTOS SE RODI!!!!!!!!

carmen Jan 07, 2008 at 18:31

ok!!!!!super beautiful sharapova shari

carmen Jan 07, 2008 at 18:33

esti cea mai tare dintre toate!!!!!!! tine-o tot asa

Wolves 13 Jan 07, 2008 at 20:58

Hallo Moto,

for Championat you need something.Thinking..................
Spirit.............

don de la jolla Jan 07, 2008 at 23:33

Zorang tries to make a good point, but it is not the evilness of the opponent. Maria needs better support. Where is her mother, Ana? What happened to the side-line coaching from her father, Yuri?

Shoaib Ahmed Jan 09, 2008 at 07:02

Hello sweet Maria,

Its ok no problem you try very will good play good luck for the next tournament you are the best forever.

I Love You so much forever

yuyu_0407 Jan 10, 2008 at 04:55

Not important of, , small frustrate, , don't give up

butt Jan 12, 2008 at 08:11

maria u r champ. i love u v much.

Imran Ellahi Jan 14, 2008 at 08:30

I Love you very much maria

Jacob Apr 09, 2008 at 05:45

hi Maria great Job iam very very happy for u u like football me tooiam a football player of the year at Stayton high School I love basketball a lot i play a lot and I have a carush on u good lucky in Island for me bye love alls Jacob