makarova

"The days when she could win majors with very little of it are fading. Illness or not, injury or not, Serena's coming up on two years without a Slam title. Rankings and smaller titles don't concern her, but that must." that's how steve tignor puts it on account of serena williams' exit in this year's australian open. ekaterina makarova, 56th-ranked from russia, stunned the 13-time grand slam champion in the fourth round, 6-2, 6-3.

i was already looking forward to a serena williams - maria sharapova showdown in the quarterfinals and already imagined how serena would trash maria, as if the latter is just a number 80+ player. even more, i wondered how would petra kvitova play against serena, now that petra is ranked number 2 and has a slam to her name. but no. i looked beyond 4th round immediately. when i was transferring from reno to sivatel, the game played on and when i got to this hotel in witthayu, makarova already completed the scalp.

i always liked serena's determination and how she finds her game when it mattered most. although it was heartbreaking to see elena dementieva lose to serena in the semis of 2009 wimbledon when elena was up or how serena stole the title from lindsay davenport in the 2005 australian open final, it was awesome to see a player giving it all, complete with steely stares and intimidation, to win a match.

none of that story this time against makarova, as they said, sheer number of errors cost her a spot in the QF. i believe that being a part-timer (she plays the least number of tournaments than anyone in the top 100) in today's game just won't cut it anymore. sure she has immense talent and intimidating power. but age and lack of preparation would just drive her shanking easy shots. for once, she should devote much time to the sport that has given her so much of what she has now. by doing a little bit more, pretenders like caroline wozniacki will be put to their proper places.