It wasn’t how most of us spent our 24th birthday, and it wasn't how Aravane Rezai hoped to spend hers. But after 73 minutes of whaling away—for good or for bad—the birthday girl, pretty in too-shimmery pink and often playing too-ugly tennis, lost to Maria Sharapova, 6-2, 6-2.
It hasn’t been a great few months for Rezai, who hasn’t won back-to-back matches since July. Today was yet another down day. Her shot selection had Eurosport commentators occasionally praising her “hand-eye coordination” but mostly questioning her “decision-making.” Said one, “I’m not sure what thought processes are going on.”
It wasn’t always clear, really. Rezai sometimes hits just about every ball the way rec players might hit against a ball machine—as hard as possible, without regard to court position or anything else. Occasionally, this resulted in a spectacular shot that whizzed past Sharapova, the way Sharapova’s shots can whiz past her opponents. But most times it led to an error, wide or long, and not by a little. Rezai served poorly, too, making only 44 percent of her first serves. That was especially problematic since she won only 26 percent of her second serves.
It took Sharapova a few games to get used to Rezai’s pace, but once she did, there was no stopping her. She benefited from her opponent's missteps, but also played much better than in her last match, a three-set battle with Anabel Medina Garrigues.
As in the past, Sharapova seemed to play even better after receiving on-court coaching. In the early part of the second set, coach Thomas Hogstedt suggested slight changes to her serve and second-serve return. She immediately broke Rezai and followed with a love hold, suggesting she acted on his advice.
Whatever your thoughts about on-court coaching, watching Sharapova listen, absorb and implement Hogstedt's words gives the sense that she’s a good student. I first thought this during a terrific match she lost to Serena Williams in Charleston a few years ago. Several years and many tournaments later, I vaguely recall that Michael Joyce, her coach at the time (or was it “hitting partner”?), suggested she take more balls out of the air. She did just that, starting with the very next point.
Lest Rezai cry into her birthday cake tonight, she should note that Sharapova, who will turn 24 herself next month, lost that match against Serena, which took place the day before her 21st birthday. In the press conference afterwards she looked at the bright side, commenting that at least she could celebrate “like a normal human.” But that was then, back when Sharapova was Caroline Wozniacki’s age and ranked nearly as high, and back when tennis player Serena was playing tennis.
Here and now, Sharapova, who withdrew from her last few planned tournaments with an upper respiratory viral illness, remains one of four Indian Wells and Grand Slam singles champs in the draw. Next she’ll play Sam Stosur or Dinara Safina, who face off tonight.
—Bobby Chintapalli