9 of the best Serena Williams-Maria Sharapova matches
MELBOURNE, Australia – Eleven years. Fifteen matches. Six finals. Maria Sharapova's losing streak to Serena Williams is far from pretty, the world No. 2 with a dismal 2-16 mark against the American heading into their Australian Open blockbuster final on Saturday night (Saturday morning in the U.S.).
But not all their matches have been duds, and even the ones that have been present plenty of digestible intrigue – and drama. Here are nine of their most memorable clashes as a primer for their 19th installation.
2004 Miami – Fourth round
(1) Serena Williams def. (17) Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3
It was their first meeting, Miami being Williams' first tournament back after an eight-month layoff because of knee surgery, effectively ending her "Serena Slam" run in 2002 and 2003. Sharapova didn't get blown off the court, but Williams, clad in a belly button ring and short shorts, was playing just her third match in a nine-month span.
2004 Wimbledon – Final
(13) Sharapova def. (1) Williams 6-1, 6-4
This is perhaps their most famous match, with Williams as the two-time reigning Wimbledon champion and Sharapova – long touted as tennis' next Anna Kournikova – fresh off a French Open quarterfinal and a win on grass in Birmingham. Sharapova came out swinging for the fences, playing lights-out tennis against a flat-footed and shell-shocked Williams. Sharapova would keep her edge in the second to capture her maiden major title, the first teenager to win a Grand Slam after Serena's 1999 U.S. Open triumph. Sharapova was on her way to international stardom.
2004 WTA Finals – Final
(6) Sharapova def. (7) Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
This match, more than 10 years ago, was Sharapova's last win vs. Williams, a dramatic three-setter in the Staples Center in Los Angeles back when the Lakers were good. Sharapova trailed 4-0 in the deciding set as an abdomen injury was ailing Williams, who took up the strategy of teeing off on Sharapova's shots – and it worked. But not for long, as the injury became more acute, Williams could barely serve and Sharapova won the last six games and the WTA title.
2005 Australian Open – Semifinals
(7) Williams def. (4) Sharapova 2-6, 7-5, 8-6
No other Sharapova-Williams battle had as much drama as this one, with Sharapova bludgeoning the ball throughout and having three match points on her serve at 5-4 in the second. She couldn't close it, however, with Williams hitting a winner each time she faced defeat. The American then won an extended third set to move into the final, the only time one opponent has saved a match point in her win. For tennis fans, this marked the turning point: Serena was in charge.
2007 Australian Open – Final
No. 81 Williams def. (1) Sharapova 6-1, 6-2
Williams played in just four matches in the fall of 2006, with injury setting her out for much of it and dropping her ranking to No. 95 in the world. But she returned with a vengeance in Melbourne, thrashing through the draw as the world No. 81 and beating Sharapova, who was brimming with confidence after winning the U.S. Open. Williams called the Grand Slam one of her greatest accomplishments ever.
2010 Wimbledon – Fourth round
(1) Williams def. (16) Sharapova 7-6(9), 6-4
This time it was Sharapova on her way back from injury, the 23-year-old returning from shoulder surgery that put her out for much of 2008 and 2009. She came back to find Williams ranked No. 1, but this was a feisty affair, perhaps their highest quality match since the Australian Open in 2005. Williams saved set points before serving an ace for the first, letting out a giant "Yes!" Williams served out the match at 5-4 in the second and went on to win a second consecutive Wimbledon three matches later.
2012 London Olympics – Final
(4) Williams def. (3) Sharapova 6-0, 6-1
On the same court two years later, it was a completely different scene in what is now an infamous loss for Sharapova. Williams was at her serving best, blasting 10 aces and taking 45 minutes to win her first singles gold medal. She told reporters after that she was disappointed to lose that game at 6-0, 3-0. Williams dropped just 17 games in the entire tournament.
2013 Miami – Final
(1) Williams def. (3) Sharapova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
Sharapova came out guns blazing in this match, winning her first set against Williams since 2008 and establishing somewhat of an offensive stance. But as the second set ticked along, Williams grew in confidence and ended up running away with it, winner of the final 10 games of the match after trailing a set and 2-3.
2013 French Open – Final
(1) Williams def. (2) Sharapova 6-4, 6-4
This is their most recent Slam final (Serena won in two WTA event finals last season). And it was an engaging affair, with Sharapova fist pumping from the start as they exchanged clay-blasting power. But Serena again proved too strong, beating the reigning Roland Garros champion for the American's first title there in 11 years.
