BROUGHT TO BOOK
Williams ready to slap down rival Maria in first clash since Russian’s autobiography
SERENA WILLIAMS will face Maria Sharapova today in the latest chapter of a long-running feud fuelled by claims in the Russian’s controversial book.
The two superstars have not met since the 2016 Australian Open when Sharapova tested positive for meldonium and was banned for 15 months.
She used her time away to write an autobiography, “Unstoppable; My Story So Far”, where she said the American has “thick arms and thick legs” and claimed Williams cried after the Russian won Wimbledon in 2004.
The 31-year-old wrote: “In this locker room, where I was changing and she was bawling. I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon.
“Not long after the tournament, I heard Serena told a friend – who told me – ‘I will never lose to that little bitch again’.”
Williams, who has won their last 18 matches, admitted she has read the book. There are 100 mentions of her name.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner said: “The book was a BY NEIL McLEMAN in Paris lot about me. I was surprised. I was, like, ‘Oh, okay’. I didn’t expect to read a book about me, that wasn’t necessarily true. I didn’t know she looked up to me that much or was so involved in my career.
“The book was 100 per cent hearsay, at least all the stuff I read and the quotes, which was a little bit disappointing.
“But I have cried in the locker room many times after a loss, and that’s what I’ve seen a lot of people do. It’s normal. I’m human. What happens there should definitely stay there and not necessarily be talked about in a not-so-positive way in a book. I don’t have any negative feelings towards her.”
Ahead of their French Open last-16 clash, Sharapova said: “It’s been a while and a lot has happened in our lives for the both of us, in very different ways.”
Williams, playing her first Grand Slam as a mother and only third event of the season, said: “She’s the favourite, She’s been playing for over a year now. I just started.”