By: Matt DeCorso

Well, well, well! What do we have here? I can smell a showdown between our two girls!! This match excites me beyond words. It's just great to see two teens battling it out for supremacy. Ashley is a year younger and is in her 3rd career semifinal, next to 2003 Auckland and Strasbourg. This is Marion's second semifinal next to last year's Canberra! This brings me to wonder who will win this clash because as of right now in this stage of the article, I don't know who is going to win!

Marion Bartoli versus Ashley Harkleroad

Well again I was very close to predicting the correct score when Bartoli beat Perry. It was 6-4 6-2 and I said 6-3 6-1. I also said that Bartoli would surrender more games to Shenay than anyone else............so far! I think that Marion played very consistent and serve pretty good. I also think that Shenay was a perfect setup for Ashley. Marion played Ashley a lot in the juniors and as Ashley described, " She won some and I won some." In this match I think Marion will play a little different than in her other matches. Instead of being the aggressor right from the start, I think she may actually wait for Ashley to make a mistake or give up a short ball and then pounce and attack. I also think she will run Harkleroad around a lot, as this is her third match in 48 hours.

Weakness: I think that Bartoli may be reluctant to act against Ashley and maybe play a little hesitant in the beginning. If this happens Ashley will capitalize.

First of all I'd like to congratulate Ashley because she played awesome and defeated two quality players. When she beat Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi 7-6 6-2 it was one of her best wins after Hantuchova in Paris last year. To top the day off she defeated a tough and tricky woman in Anca Barna 6-3 7-5. Two solid performances in one night was tiring admitted young Ashley but she said she was rarin' to go today against Marion. In this match I think Ashley may try and surprise Marion with some sudden rushes to the net and unexpected drop shots. Ashley admitted that the drop shot was effective against Anca and I think if she did it well today that she could actually tire Marion more than Anca. I say this because Marion rarely lets go of her two hands and you need one hand to retrieve a GOOD drop shot so...that'd be good to try.

Weakness: Tiredness. As I mentioned earlier, this is Ashley's third match in 48 hours so as excited and fresh she is, she may still be suffering some exhaustion.

Who has the Edge?

Serve- Harkleroad

Groundies- Harkleroad

Intangibles- Harkleroad (defending semifinalist)

Movement- Harkleroad

Volley- Bartoli (the doubles quarterfinalist with Laura Granville)

Well even though the conclusion of the article is near I still am very undecided about this match. Ashley will hit winners in a patch and then Bartoli will hit a few so there will be a lot of winners in this match. I also have a feeling that there will be a lot of errors as well. For Ashley, try not to keep the points too long because Marion is the fresher girl. Also do what I said and try a few rushes to the net and some drop shots and just move her around. For Marion, just continue on the form you've been demonstrating the whole week but step it up 10 times more for Harkleroad. Wait for a mistake or short ball and then make your move. You have to be patient!

Matt's Pick: After much brain racking I have decided to award the win to Bartoli 7-6 7-5.

I am a Harkleroad fan more than Bartoli (i love 'em both but...) so GO ASHLEY!!!!!

Thanks!