When you compare what Sharapova says to reality, it seems clear that being pitted against Williams has helped her benefit from their feud, in the form of lucrative endorsement deals, magazine spreads, and preferential treatment at professional tournaments.
From to , when Sharapova was just coming onto the scene, that player was Serena Williams. When any player displays the kind of dominance that Williams did, they tend to evolve the overall narrative of tennis. Sharapova was seeded 13th, and it seemed like she was still a couple of years away from a breakthrough win. But she made her way through the draw, notching a comeback win in the semifinals after being a set down against American Lindsay Davenport, who was seeded fifth.
Williams, who had beaten Sharapova at a tournament in Miami earlier that year, was playing Wimbledon while recovering from injury. Sharapova ultimately faced Williams in the championship, which saw Sharapova in the zone and Williams looking a little rusty after some time off; Sharapova came away with a dominating win and a boatload of expectations.
From that tournament on, the hype surrounding Sharapova was that she was one of the few players who could beat Williams and challenge her greatness. The next great tennis rivalry had arrived — or so many people thought. Maria Sharapova is an entertaining tennis player — but more so off the court than on. Though her match style is loud and one-dimensional, she knows how to play up the saltiness and drama that accompany the sport.
When asked about this comment in the press conference, Sharapova had a response that would make a drag queen shed a tear of joy. In , after she won Wimbledon against her sister Venus, Serena Williams was asked if she saw herself as the No. I think Dinara [Safina] did a great job to get to No. Williams and the press room at Wimbledon erupted in a cackle.
The salt and sass of Williams and Sharapova would meet prior to Wimbledon in , though not on the tennis court. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Williams seemed to talk about Sharapova dating Dimitrov, though she never named Sharapova outright :.
I'm so lucky' — it's so boring," says Serena in a loud voice. And, hey, if she wants to be with the guy with a black heart, go for it. After this apparent spat, neither player did particularly well at Wimbledon — both lost earlier than they were expected to.
But the barbs each woman had served ramped up interest in the feud between the two, even if what happened on the court did not.
In spite of its reputation as an elegant, gentle sport, tennis had a saucy catfight on its hands. And the press and fans drank up the bad blood between the two. A couple of years later, in , Williams was asked about her dominating record against Sharapova. I love playing her. It has been over a decade. It has been 17 matches, including three Grand Slam finals. It has been 34 sets for Williams and just three for Sharapova. It has been, plainly, dominant. But Tuesday they start from zero again.
Williams will have to win to continue her march towards successfully defending her Australian Open title. She will have to beat Sharapova for an 18th consecutive time. She's very consistent, as well. She knows how to consistently win. There are many people that can write me off, especially after going down , As long as it's not the person that's inside of you, you'll be OK. Williams arrived at Flushing Meadows, where she has won six titles, accompanied by questions about her back because spasms that flared up earlier this month forced her to stop playing during the final of one hard-court tune-up tournament and withdraw from another.
I feel good,'' Williams said. So I'm excited. This is going to be fun. A year ago, she was beaten by Naomi Osaka in straight sets in a US Open title match that devolved after a back-and-forth between Williams and chair umpire Carlos Ramos. When Williams was asked Monday night what she thought of the U. Tennis Association's decision that Ramos would not officiate any match involving her or her older sister, Venus, at this year's tournament, this was the reply: "I don't know who that is.
Williams was as calm and cool as can be against Sharapova, only rarely showing emotion with a cry of "Come on! It shaped up as far and away the most intriguing matchup on Day 1 at the year's last Grand Slam tournament. Few athletes in any sport have been as popular in recent decades. Williams owns 23 major singles title and Sharapova five.
Both have a career Grand Slam. Both have been ranked No.
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