Serena Williams cheekily urged that there was “a motive” behind her dominance versus Maria Sharapova and every little thing might be revealed when her documentary will get launched. Williams, a former 23-time Grand Slam champion, famously completely dominated her head-to-head versus Sharapova, profitable 20 of their 22 matches.
However Sharapova profitable simply two matches in opposition to Williams wasn’t even the worst factor of their head-to-head because the American tennis icon just about humiliated the Russian by profitable every of their final 19 conferences. When Sharapova famously upset Williams within the 2004 Wimbledon remaining to develop into a Grand Slam champion on the most prestigious match as a 17-year-old lady, the tennis neighborhood was sure that might be one of many largest and most entertaining rivalries for a few years.
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However after Sharapova defeated Williams on the 2004 WTA Finals to enhance to 2-1 of their head-to-head, it fully grew to become a one-sided rivalry because the American received every of their 19 conferences performed between 2005 and 2019. Forward of the discharge of Williams’ documentary – titled Within the Area – Williams was requested about her dominance in opposition to Sharapova.
“Oh, man, you didn’t see [what I said about beating Maria Sharapova]? I feel that’s Episode 3. God, I’m so unhappy. You need to see the remainder. You gotta await it. There was a motive why I didn’t lose to her, and I clarify that,” Williams stated throughout an interview with The New York Occasions.
Williams just lately answered if there was a beef between her and Williams
As talked about above, Williams completely dominated Sharapova for a few years.
However nonetheless, there was at all times numerous consideration and hype every time they had been about to fulfill on the court docket. And of the explanations behind that was rumored beef between the 2. Due to the rumored beef, many speculated over time that it was the most important motivation for Williams to each time exit and crush Sharapova.
Nonetheless, neither Williams nor Sharapova ever publicly confirmed that they disliked one another as an individual. And Williams, who has been retired for 2 years, was requested about it final month. “Not anymore. I imply, was there ever beef? I suppose.
It was simply aggressive. She was profitable. I used to be profitable, you recognize, we each needed to win, and I do not suppose it was private. It was simply, ‘Do you wish to win?'” Williams just lately stated on The Serena Assortment.
Sharapova just lately recalled her well-known Wimbledon remaining win over Williams
Going into the 2004 Wimbledon remaining, Sharapova was coming off a giant semifinal win over former world No.
1 Lindsay Davenport however Williams was already a six-time Grand Slam champion and the American was thought-about the favourite. However a 17-year-old Sharapova delivered a really inspiring efficiency to oust Williams 6-1 6-4. When recalling that win just lately, Sharapova just about she was capable of free herself mentally and get within the zone.
“There was a lot on the road in that match, one of many largest causes was as a result of it was Wimbledon. Truly, I performed Serena a number of months again at a match in Miami and he or she simply received that match in two units,” Sharapova stated on Armchair Knowledgeable with Dax Shepard podcast in late 2023.
“It was a second itself once I actually felt the burden. It was the truth that Wimbledon in my eyes rising up was ‘The Occasion, The Event,’ the place the place as knowledgeable you wish to find yourself, you need these French doorways to open to Centre Court docket.
“And it did and it simply occurred to be the ultimate for me. It’s attention-grabbing it was one of many first few instances in my profession as a younger lady that I felt what it was prefer to be within the zone. You already know when athletes talk about being within the circulation, within the zone, I had that second in the midst of the match, and it was within the fourth spherical.
“It was not that I had that a lot expertise within the Grand Slam tournaments, simply two weeks earlier than it was my first time stepping into the quarterfinals on the French Open. Although I misplaced, it was an enormous victory. I discovered myself on this circulation state in the midst of the occasion enjoying somebody who additionally ought to’ve overwhelmed me.
“However I received that match so confidently and so routinely. It felt like I used to be letting go of all of the repetitions, I used to be letting go of any concern that I had. I simply allowed the second and my talent to shine by means of.”
By profitable the 2004 Wimbledon title, Sharapova grew to become the youngest feminine champion at The Championships at 17 years, two months and 14 days.
Sharapova can also be the youngest Wimbledon champion ever since Boris Becker – the youngest Wimbledon champion in males’s tennis – was 17 years, seven months and 15 days previous when he received The Championships in 1985.
