MELBOURNE, Jan 25: Australian Open finalist Maria Sharapova’s mentor Nick Bollettieri says his former charge’s big-match nerves will win her the title decider against Serbian Ana Ivanovic on Saturday.

He pointed out that Sharapova had won two Grand Slams and will be contesting her fourth final at a major, while Ivanovic has only reached one decider, last year’s French Open, which she lost in a nervy display to Justine Henin.

But he said a potential wild card could be Sharapova’s reaction to the squeaking caused by Ivanovic’s shoes as she shuffles on the Plexicushion surface before receiving a serve.

The noise drove Ivanovic’s semi-final opponent Daniela Hantuchova to distraction, prompting the Slovak ninth seed to accuse her opponent of gamemanship to get back into the match.

“Sharapova seems a little more confident around the net than Ivanovic does. This match is pretty even on paper,” Bollettieri added.—AFP