Italian Camila Giorgi produced her biggest career victory to date at the BNP Paribas Open 2014 Indian Wells on Monday after the diminutive WTA star eliminated defending champion Maria Sharapova 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
“It was a really good match – it wasn’t too consistent, but it was great anyway,” Giorgi said. “I just tried to play my game and keep going, and even if I missed, I still played my game. I didn’t change.
“I think I was just playing more aggressive than her at the end and that was really important.”
This is Giorgi’s first career win against a Top 5 player. The match lasted two hours and 36 minutes.
Sharapova was disappointed with the loss.
“I did not play a good match at all. I had never played against her, but she’s someone who doesn’t give you much rhythm. She’s quite aggressive, but some shots she hits incredible for a long period of time, then sometimes she goes off for a bit. But my level was nowhere near where it should have been.”
“I guess just a bad day.”
Sharapova complimented her opponent, though.
“I think if she played at this level for a consistent period of time, I don’t think she’d be a qualifier here,” Sharapova commented. “I think that’s pretty obvious to everyone. But that’s the thing with tennis – and I’ve said it so many times – you’ve got to bring this type of tennis when you’re playing on center court or when you’re playing on Court 18. And especially when you’re just moving up and when you’re just getting that confidence and you’re playing well in Grand Slams, you’ve got to back it up.
“It’s a big challenge. It really is. But if she keeps it up, she will be a good player.”
