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If you have been watching the Australian Open up to this point, then you would have noticed Maria Sharapova’s glaring difficulties throughout the tournament. Clearly the defending 2006 US Open champion has not been at her best, and has come close to defeat on several occasions. Against Anna Chakvetadze in the quarterfinals, Sharapova committed numerous double faults and lost her service game to fall back 2-4 in the first set before scrambling back to take it in a less than spectacular tie breaker.

The second set fared similarly, with both players losing points on their serve and committing many unforced errors. But, despite Sharapova’s out-of-sorts performance, she managed to stagger into the semifinals of the Australian Open.

On the other hand, Kim Clijsters - in her final campaign - fared better in her first few rounds at the Australian Open, waltzing through to the quarterfinals. However, Clijsters’ performance against Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals revealed her usual habit of beating herself in the late rounds of big tournaments. Committing 62 unforced errors, which forced the match into three sets, Clijsters finally topped Martina in rather dull fashion.

So what does this mean for the semifinal head-to-head matchup between the No.1 seed Sharapova and the No.4 seed Clijsters?

Prediction:
This matchup is rather uncomplicated, with both players favoring a rather flat ball-hitting game. Considering both of their most recent performances, this match will be decided by consistency. It will not be so much of a case of who wins this match as much as a case of who will lose it. Both Sharapova and Clijsters exhibited a tendency to beat themselves recently, committing unforced errors, double faults and missing their first serves.

By all indications, this semifinal matchup looks to pale in comparison to the other semifinal matchup between Serena Williams and Nicole Vaidisova. However, as it is Sharapova and Clijsters’ fate that is in consideration here, then a prediction must be made.

Clijsters is on her farewell tour. While this might add pressure on her to perform her best, it may also bring to question her passion for the sport. In the end, this will be the deciding factor for Clijsters. Sharapova’s passion on the other hand is unquestionable, particularly after her spectacular, albeit scrappy, effort in the first round to avoid defeat. Sharapova, despite not being her best, has the desire to compete and win titles, and this commitment to her tennis career will translate to a victory over Clijsters.

 Sharapova in three sets.

*** UPDATE: With her relatively easy 6-4, 6-2 victory over Clijsters, Sharapova becomes the first Russian woman to get to the Australian Open finals. She now has a date with unseeded former champion Serena Williams, who was ranked outside the top 80 when the tournament began. Serena and Maria have met four times in the past, each having won two games, setting up what should be a match made in heaven for viewers, bettors and fans everywhere. Sharapova is the early favorite at -220. Serena Williams enters the final as a +160 underdog.***

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Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributer to the BetUS.com Locker Room.