July 29, 2011
In a much anticipated clash between WTA legends, Maria Sharapova challenges the hegemony of Serena Williams in the quarterfinal of WTA event in Stanford. Who will have an edge?
Former World No.1 Serena Williams takes on arch rival Maria Sharapova in an attmept to win her first title on home soil in almost three years as the two supertars clash in the quarterfinal of the 2011 Bank of the West Classic, WTA's oldest women-only event being played here in Stanford, California.
Serena Williams is considered by many as the most mentally tough player in the circuit currently. Despite missing almost one year due to injuries and health problems, the American star made a superb comeback to the tour with notable runs at grasscourt events in Eastbourne and Wimbledon, where she reached the quarterfinals. Winner of 37 WTA singles titles, Williams is ranked as low as No.169 in the world.
Williams opponent, Maria Sharapova did not have to wait for too long to see one of her aspirations come true as a week after expressing her wish to meet the WTA legend, Sharapova has set up an elusive clash. Sharapova is one of the few players to have gotten the better of Serena at grand stages in tennis. After winning the 2004 Wimbledon final, Sharapova overcame a 4-0 final set deficit to beat Serena in a nail-biting Tour Championships final. This year, Sharapova returned to the finals of Wimbledon and also clinched a title in Rome as a result of which she saw a huge rise in her rankings.
Both stars have contested eight matches before and each one of them has been a tussle in its own way. Where Sharapova dominated the proceedings in the first few matches, Serena, true to form, avenged the expensive losses in her own brutal way. The pair's last clash came at the historic All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon last year where Williams outclassed the Russian in two closely contested sets.
Serena Williams is known for the tenacity she brings into the encounters which have a scope of score settlement. Although she hasn't lost any of the past five meetings with the Russian, she still remembers the bitter experiences of the defeats seven years ago. Sharapova, on the other hand, is not only ready but also expected to get past Williams this time around. Only time will tell the rest.
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