Sharapova and Chaktevadze serve up exhibition tennis for Singapore

TENNIS

Singapore Indoor Stadium, December 30, 2007 – A near-capacity mostly middle-aged crowd watched Maria Sharapova beat Anna Chakvetadze 6-0, 7-6 yesterday evening at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in a game that hit few high notes.

World number 5 Maria Sharapova. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

With both players heading into a packed WTA season and World number 5 Sharapova just recovered from a shoulder injury, it was perhaps too much to expect both players to play at full speed. With the torrential downpour delaying the game by 8:15 p.m. to allow the crowd to fill the stadium, Chakvetadze soon fell behind 0-3, with double faults costing her points. World number 6 Chaktevadze almost broke Sharapova’s serve in the fourth game but the latter reasserted herself to win the game and go 4-0 up. That was the closest Chaktevadze came to putting up a strong fight in the first set with unforced errors allowing her Russian compatriot to wrap up the first set 6-0.

World number 6 Anna Chektavadze. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

The crowd applauded loudly in ecstatic relief when Chaktevadze finally gained her first game point by breaking Sharapova’s serve to even the score up at 1-1 in the second set. Chaktevadze then broke Sharapova’s serve again after winning her own service game to go 3-1 up. Sharapova appeared to have also dialed down the power a little, the clear power advantage she had in the first set not so evident in the second. Double fault problems crept back into Chaktevadze’s game and that allowed Sharapova to creep back to 2-3. Chaktevadze then broke Sharapova for the third time to go 4-2 up. Winning their respective service game, the score became 5-3 in Chaktevadze’s favour with the crowd egging her on to bring it into a third set.

A mostly middle-aged crowd paid concert-like prices to watch the exhibition game. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Up 40-15, Chaktevadze made mistakes that let Sharapova back in to win the game to go 4-5, just when the crowd was expecting her to wrap up the set. Two games later and with the score at 6-5 in Chaktevadze’s favour, Chaktevadze pushed Sharapova to deuce but could not make the breakthrough. Sharapova fought her off and won the game to make it 6-6 and send the set into a tie-breaker.

The 1.88m tall Sharapova made short work of Chaktevadze in the first set, winning 6-0 in 26 minutes. (Photo © Ng Cheng Cong)

Chaktevadze kept her nose in front, leading 3-2 and then 5-3 while displaying her courtcraft guile by forcing Sharapova wide, negating her opponent’s superior physical power. A close line call at 5-4 that did not go her way unsettled Chaktevadze and she promptly lost the next point to allow Sharapova to lead 6-5 for the first time in the tie-break. Chaktevadze regained enough of her composure to even it up and then lead 7-6.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (in purple), minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), watching the match with his wife and two of his children. To his right is Teo Ser Luck, Parliamentary Secretary of MCYS. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

At this point, the game then hit its first high note when a long, intense rally ensued with both players going full-on with brilliant placements. It eventually ended in Sharapova’s favour when Chaktevadze hit a baseline return long to allow Sharapova to draw level at 7-7. Like waiting for buses that take forever to come and then two appear at the same time, the next rally was again another long, intense one which had the crowd enthralled. This time Chaktevadze sent one down the line that Sharapova thought was out but was called in, much to her annoyance.

Anna Chaktevadze compensated for a lack of power with court craft guile and doggedness but unforced errors let her down. (Photo © Ng Cheng Cong)

Leading 8-7, Chaktevadze now had the crowd firmly behind her but still she could not finish off Sharapova who fought back to 8-8. Neck and neck they went – 9-8, 9-9, 10-9, 10-10 – with Sharapova never allowing Chaktevadze to finish the set off. Sharapova then pulled ahead at 11-10 and Chaktevadze’s resistance finally crumbled, allowing Sharapova to win the tie-break 13-11.

They came to see Maria Sharapova and no one else. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

The Russian beauties smile for the cameras before the start of the match. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

“I know you want these balls …” Sharapova points to the crowd before hitting the autographed balls into the crowd. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

“Maria! Here!” Eager spectators stretch out their hands hoping to grab one of the few autographed balls hit into the crowd. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Sharapova has a routine of sitting still and closing her eyes at every break in play. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Sharapova heads to Hong Kong next to play Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the JB Group Classic Tennis annual champion's tournament in January 08. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Teo Ser Luck gamely showed up in running shoes for the game. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Chatevadze will also head to Hong Kong to play in the same tournament as Sharapova. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Minister Balakrishnan hands over the prize to Maria Sharapova. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

“Thank you, Singapore.” Maria Sharapova holds up her prize. (Photo © Pan Ken Nie)

Sharapova signs a few autographs for some lucky fans. (Photo © Pan Ken Nie)

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