Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova: Paris prepares for a showdown

Women’s tennis rivals go head-to-head at
the French Open today

One-Minute Read

The two women’s tennis stars go head-to-head in the fourth round
on Philippe-Chatrier court with Russia’s Sharapova hoping to end an
18-match losing streak against American icon Williams. Play is
expected to get under way at 3pm UK time.

The latest chapter in the pair’s great rivalry has stepped up a
notch after Sharapova’s comments about Williams in her 2017 autobiography Unstoppable: My
Life So Far. 

During her career, Sharapova has only won two matches
against Williams. One of the victories was the Wimbledon final in
2004 and in her book she wrote: “I think Serena hated me for being
the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon. I
think she hated me for seeing her at her lowest moment. But mostly
I think she hated me for hearing her cry. She’s never forgiven me
for it.”

This week Williams hit back by saying the book was “100%
hearsay” but says she does not have any “negative feelings” against
Sharapova, who returned from a 15-month doping ban last
April.

Quoted by the BBC, 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams said: “I
think the book was 100% hearsay, which was a little bit
disappointing. I have cried in the locker room many times after a
loss, and that’s what I have seen a lot of people do. I think it’s
normal. I think if anything, it shows the passion and the desire
and, you know, the will that you have to want to go out there and
do the best. 

“I think what happens there should definitely maybe stay
there and not necessarily talk about it in a not-so-positive way in
a book.

“I don’t have any negative feelings towards her, which
again, was a little disappointing to see in that hearsay book. A
lot of people always assume that I feel a different way and it’s
not true.”

Williams admits that Sharapova is “probably a favourite” to
progress to the quarter-finals in Paris. The Guardian’s Kevin Mitchell also believes
that the Russian has the “steely will” to cause an upset at
Roland-Garros but Williams “will not want for motivation now”.

Mitchell writes: “Thunder and lightning are expected to
light up Court Philippe Chatrier, and that’s only the weather
forecast. If she [Sharapova] fulfils the majority of predictions
here and actually beats Williams, it is difficult to imagine she
will be able to contain that ice-cool facade for long. She might
even be caught bawling in the locker room.”

Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova

• When: today 
• Where: French Open fourth round 
• Expected start time: 3pm (UK time) 
• Grand Slam titles: Williams 23; Sharapova five 
• Head-to-head record: Williams 19 wins; Sharapova two