Sports Thread #1 For 10/26/11: BNP Paribas WTA Championships, Day 2 (Li d. Sharapova, Azarenka d. Stosur)

Photo from AP

Match Review: Na Li defeats Sharapova for a 4th straight time in a 74 error horror.

It sure wasn't pretty for Na Li. But for Maria Sharapova, it was utterly hideous.

For the first time in two months, the Chinese #1 was on the winning end of a result, out steadying Sharapova 7-6 (4), 6-4 in a, quite honestly, poor display of tennis in the 3rd match of the White Group.

It was Na Li's 4th consecutive victory over Sharapova, all ending in straight set results. And if you witnessed this non-aesthetic contest, you will see why that is the case, even at a level where both players made 37 unforced errors (and most of them were cringe worthy for their fans and neutrals to witness.)

Sharapova had clear advantages to control the match against a still unconfident Li, with a 4-2 lead and a few chances for a commanding double break advantage. She blew that.

Sharapova then had a chance to serve out the set at 5-4. She blew that, getting routinely broken at `15.

Sharapova once again looked to have momentum on her side at 4-0 up in the eventual tiebreak. She then became a mental mess once again, letting an erratic Li out of the hole to lose the next seven straight points on all errors, the set, and any chance of reversing the rivalry's current mental dynamics.

And the Russian let that desultory form plague her to a 5-2 deficit in the 2nd, with double faults, poor footwork, and a lack of confidence taken away by Li once again being the stronger force between the ears.

Then fittingly, Li became the fragile force that she has been since Roland Garros, getting broken at 30 and letting Sharapova have an easy hold to feel the pressure for a second chance at serving it out. And the French Open champion was feeling that, seemingly succumbing to the choking syndrome facing 15-40 down at 5-4.

But the law of current mental edges in tennis came up once again. Li showed just why she now owns the rivalry on Sharapova by outdeling her once again when it mattered the most: By being steadier and bolder to turn around the game for a needed victory.

For Sharapova, it is the same tired tactical and mental nightmare that has plagued her over the last few years in big matches against prime opposition.

The unexpected lost to Stosur for the first time in 10 meetings yesterday was really curtains for her campaign in Istanbul. And anyone who has seriously been paying attention knows that it's more than the serve causing her problems.

It's right between the ears: A place where she makes an unconfident Na Li look strong once more.

Photo from AP

Match Review: Azarenka defats Stosur Easily 6-2, 6-2.

For all the relief getting the Maria Sharapova money off her back was yesterday, Sam Stosur sure is guaranteed to have the opposite feeling with the Victoria Azarenka monkey still on her after today.

For the 5th time, the Belorussian handily took apart the US Open in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-2 in her opening match at the BNP Paribas WEC Championships. And Azarenka almost went the entire match without encountering a single break point.

That last tidbit shows how utterly outperformed Stosur was today in dealing with a simply better player than who she faced yesterday. Azarenka won't donate anywhere near the inane errors on double faults or over-aggressive serve returns that Sharapova gives top-level opponents. Steady play to go along with her constant intensity was present today from Azarenka, impressive considering her getting to Istandbul Monday after winning Luxemburg the day prior.

Stosur can take some solace that she has the struggling Na Li next, as the tables turn where she is now the nightmare opponent for her opposition.

But she must find the steady level that she was yesterday instead of the erratic Sam that popped up today over a nemesis she still owns.