I know, I know. Lots of people hate Ana and Masha. The ajdes, the fist pumping, the shrieking, I get it. I can see how they grate . But I heart them both and I do worry that we're never going to see another high profile match between these two.
Which leads me to Bonnie Ford's recent article on the Glam rivalry that may never be:
When Sharapova and Ivanovic dueled for the 2008 Australian Open title, the matchup was hailed as a burgeoning rivalry with literal and figurative legs, glamour versus glamour, a marketer's dream. Cast both women in a James Bond movie, and 007 would become an afterthought in a hurry. They're fascinating hybrids: Sharapova's steel can sometimes mask a warm personality, while Ivanovic's bubbly enthusiasm can obscure her fierce competitive drive. Both have childhood backstories of successful seekers in promised lands, Sharapova from Siberia via Florida, and Ivanovic from Serbia via Switzerland.
Although Sharapova won convincingly in Melbourne, there was reason to hope for many more reprises between these two players, who were born just seven months apart. But they haven't played since. Given their current form, the odds of a potential rendezvous in the semifinals here seem slim. (They met in that round here in 2007 in a match Ivanovic won handily.)
On some sick and perverse level I was actually hoping that Ana did draw Masha in her 1/8 of the draw. Just to see them take the court together. Alas. Though, I guess it could still happen at Wimbly.
