July 29, 2011
Maria Sharapova versus Serena Williams is a match fit for Centre Court at Wimbledon, or the bright lights of a night session at the U.S. Open.
Or, as it turns out, the cozy confines of Stanford's Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Williams on Thursday guaranteed a star-studded Bank of the West Classic quarterfinal match, beating Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Sharapova, the tournament's No. 2 seed and fifth-ranked player in the world.
"She's going to probably look at me as the ultimate enemy out there, as I will do the same with her," Williams said of Friday night's matchup with Sharapova. "It's nothing personal. This is a job for me.
"I'm trying to get paid," she added with a smile. "I've been off a year."
Earlier Thursday, top seed and defending champion Victoria Azarenka lost 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to qualifier Marina Erakovic, currently ranked No. 121 in the world.
Erakovic missed six months in 2009 with a hip injury and ever since has spent much of her time playing on the lower tier ITF circuit. Still, she entered the Bank of the West Classic 48 spots ahead of Williams in the rankings, a sign of just how little Williams has played in the past year because of a litany of injuries and ailments.
This is just Williams' third tournament in the past year, and while she didn't drop a game in her first-round match, she struggled to put Kirilenko away. After taking an injury timeout to deal with a blister, Williams sprayed shots wide and long while dropping the second set.
"I was a little sluggish out there today," Williams said. "I wasn't moving well -- or moving period. I really didn't think I played great today. "It was a 'D' (grade) at best."
After winning the third set, Williams brought her "A game" to a long, meandering post-match news conference. She spoke at length about her love for hole-in-the-wall burrito joints and her wish that she had been born left-handed, and even chided herself for being "too stupid and nervous to say anything" to Justin Bieber at the ESPYs.
But when the conversation turned to her chances at the upcoming U.S. Open, Williams turned serious, noting that the tournament was "a long way off."
"It's about the climb," she said. "It's not about how fast you get there."
Williams can take a big step on that climb with a win against Sharapova. The goal isn't to just have a good showing, or play well. Even as she rounds her game back into shape, Williams said she is here to win.
"A lot of people say they just want to play well," Williams said. "It's a lie."
- Sabine Lisicki advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over her doubles partner, fourth-seeded Samantha Stosur. Ayumi Morita also advanced with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Urszula Radwanska.
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