Old rivals start afresh
Paris, June 3: Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will renew their bitter 14- year rivalry in the French Open prequarterfinals on Monday, with the American dominating their record 19- 2.
Some of the classic matches between the two former world number ones are:
Wimbledon final in 2004
Sharapova won 6- 4, 6- 1: Sharapova announced herself to the tennis world in dramatic fashion as a 17- year- old at the All England Club by dismantling defending champion Serena in straight sets to become the thirdyoungest winner of the title. The Russian claimed 13 years later in her book that she heard her beaten opponent crying in the dressing room afterwards, saying she believed that was the motivation for Serena’s incredible run of 18 straight wins against her.
Australian Open semi- finals in 2005
Serena won 2- 6, 7- 5, 8- 6: Serena suffered her second defeat in three meetings with Sharapova in 2004 at the WTA Tour Championships, but hit back in some style just three months later at Melbourne Park. Sharapova looked set to notch a third straight win over her rival, but failed to serve for the match twice, with Serena saving three match points on the second occasion. The American edged a dramatic deciding set. Olympics final in 2012
■ Serena won 6- 0, 6- 1: After a straightforward Serena’s victory at the
2007 Australian Open, the pair did not meet again in a final for over five years, with the eagerly- awaited moment coming at the London Olympics. The match was hyped like a Grand Slam final, with the tournament played at Wimbledon. But Serena underlined her dominance over Sharapova, dropping just one game in a 63- minute humbling to become the first player in history to win all four Grand Slam titles and Olympic singles and doubles gold medals. French Open final in 2013
■ Serena won 6- 4, 6- 4: Sharapova fought bravely for much of the match, but could not do enough to stop Williams securing victory at a time when she was at peak.