MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES
Serena sets up showdown with rival Sharapova
MIKE TYSON was in the crowd supporting Serena Williams at the French Open last night and he would surely want a ringside seat for her next contest – a rematch against old adversary Maria Sharapova.
The clash all tennis has been waiting to see is on tomorrow after the two bitter rivals both won through to the last sixteen. The term ‘rivalry’ should be used advisedly as Williams has won 19 of their 21 meetings, but they remain the biggest names in the women’s game and there is not a lot of love lost.
For instance, in her autobiography last year the Russian provocatively described Williams having ‘ thick arms and thick legs’ — not something that will have endeared her to someone so proud of their athletic body.
The two have not met since the 2016 Australian Open, where Sharapova tested positive for Meldonium and subsequently received a 15-month ban.
It would have been impossible, because by the time Sharapova returned a year last April Williams was on maternity leave, eventually giving birth on September 1.
They kept their appointment after both knocked out players with a technically higher ranking. Sharapova impressed in disposing of No 6 seed Karolina Plisk ova 6-26-1 in just 59 minutes, while Williams further shook off some of her ringrust by beating No 11 Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-4.
Sharapova was the first one through and, not knowing her next opponent at the time, opted for general diplomacy.
‘ I think any time you play against Serena you know what you’re up against,’ she said. ‘You know the challenge that is upon you. You know, despite the record that I have against her, I always look forward to coming out on the court and competing against the best player.’
Sharapova did concede that over the years Williams has caused her particular problems in their match-up.
‘I think there are a lot of things in her game that she’s done much better than I have. The numbers don’t lie,’ she said.
‘I’ve been able to put myself in this position of playing better tennis. That’s what I continue to work for. You don’t put those hours on the back courts in Bradenton- fricking- Florida to just show up at events like this and not bring it,’ she added, referring to her training base in America.
Two months ago it appeared that Sharapova’s comeback from her doping suspension was in danger of fizzling out into mediocrity.
She was hammered by Angelique Kerber at January’s Australian Open and it turned out to be the start of a run of four successive defeats. Not only that, but she parted company with her loyal coach Sven Groenefeld, who had stuck with her throughout the ban.
But the arrival of the outdoor clay court season heralded a revival, coinciding with her turning back to a former coach, Sweden’s Tomas Hogstedt, who has reinvigorated her game.
She started to gain some momentum coming into Roland Garros, a place where she has performed strongly. In her five appearances in Paris leading up to the hiatus in her career she win the title twice, made another final and a semi-final too.
Despite that record she was not offered a wildcard for last year’s event when her ranking was too low to enter, with French Federation President Bernard Giudicelli taking the strong stance that it would send out the wrong message on anti-doping matters.
Given Williams’ lack of play coming in here, Sharapova will surely see this as a chance to score a rare victory.