Right, that’s it from me, I’ll leave you with Kevin Mitchell’s match report:
What was most remarkable about Serena Williams’s 17th career win over Maria Sharapova, delivering her a 19th major to draw within three of Steff Graf’s Open era record of 22, was that she could not lose, whatever the result. So publicly had she suffered throughout the 2015 Australian Open with a hacking cough that could be heard even over the screaching of the game’s loudest interjectionists, it was impossible for Sharapova to win. As it happened, their 19th encounter went the way of nearly all the others, Williams winning 6-3, 7-6, despite the Russian’s best fighting instincts. In grand slam finals, Williams, the oldest champion here in the Open era, is 19-4, the best percentage performance in either the men’s or women’s game. She is a phenomenon.
“I love you back,” she shouted to a fan in the audience before accepting the trophy on court. “In the end I was able to come through. I also have to congratulate Maria who really pushed me tonight. She gave us a great final. “Growing up I wasn’t the richest, but I had a rich family in spirit. Standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen. I went on a court just with a ball and a racket and with a hope.” Thirty years after she won her third Australian Open, Martina Navratilova was on hand to witness Williams’s untrammelled progress towards further glory.
You can read the rest by clicking here. Thanks for joining me, and do come back tomorrow for game-by-game coverage of the men’s final. I believe a certain man named Andy Murray is playing. Bye!
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Waw!!! Awesome speech @MariaSharapova class act!
— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) January 31, 2015
I am sooo proud of you @serenawilliams . Your 19th Grand Slam and the 6th with me in 2,5 incredible years. Thanks... http://t.co/0Z4BzlqvCH
— Coach MOURATOGLOU (@pmouratoglou) January 31, 2015
And here comes Williams, described by the announcer as a “phenomenon, an icon and a legend.” Navratilova hands over the Daphne Akhurst trophy and Williams holds it aloft. Navratilova looks extremely gracious, considering Williams has just overtaken her tally of 18 grand slam singles titles. “I love you Serena!” shouts one fan. “I love you too,” replies Williams.
I have to congratulate Maria. She gave us a great final, not only for you guys but for women’s tennis. I’m really honoured I got to play you in the final. Growing up, I wasn’t the richest, but I had a rich family in spirit and support, and standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen. I just went on court with a ball, a racket and a hope, that’s all I had. And it’s an inspiration for you guys who want to be the best – you can be, never give up and you don’t know who you can inspire. You never know what can happen. I’m so honoured to be here tonight and to hold this 19th trophy.
Williams looked quite choked there, that was a heartfelt speech. The 19th title clearly means so much to her. And so it should. She’s proved her tennis greatness once again and, if she can stay fit, has a fantastic chance of closing in on Graf’s record of 22. We’re so lucky to be able to watch such a wonderful player, athlete and competitor in this era.
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Trophy time
Sharapova trudges up to collect her third runners-up plate at the Australian Open from Martina Navratilova. Here’s what she has to say:
First of all I’ve got to congratulate Serena for creating history. It’s really an honour playing against her. I haven’t beaten her in a really long time, but I really love playing against her as she is the best and you want to play against the best. So congratulations on an incredible achievement. It’s been a long couple of weeks. I was almost down and out in the second round, so I feel like I had a second life in this tournament. It wasn’t quite enough today, but I gave it everything. I love playing in the Rod Laver Arena, I’ve had some of my best memories and toughest losses, but that’s the life of a tennis player.
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Sharapova sits slumped on her chair, probably pondering just what she has to do to beat her bête noire. While we wait for the presentation, some Twitter reaction ...
Did you expect anything other than an ace from Serena to take the title? Too good #19Slams #AusOpen
— Anne Keothavong (@annekeothavong) January 31, 2015
Big congratulations to my big sis @serenawilliams on #19! Such an inspiration! #champ
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) January 31, 2015
You would think that SW might get couple more slams this year to inch closer to Steph
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) January 31, 2015
Honestly Shazza could not have played any better but that is not good enough to beat a in form SW in a grand slam final
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) January 31, 2015
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SERENA WILLIAMS WINS 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) TO BECOME THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION FOR A SIXTH TIME!
Williams think she’s won it with an ace – the crowd think she’s won it – but the umpire calls a let! But Williams recovers her poise, and settles matters with another ace, her 18th of the day. A fairly fitting end given her serving performance in this final. Williams looks subdued for a second, probably checking the umpire’s not going to halt her celebration this time, before skipping to the net and a fairly warm exchange with Sharapova, it has to be said. Williams jumps up and down with joy, lets out a squeal or two before signalling to her box. She’s the Australian Open champion for a sixth time, it’s her 19th grand slam title (she’s now only three behind Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 and moves ahead of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time grand slam winners’ list) and, once again, Sharapova ends up being a vehicle for Williams’s greatness.
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Second set tie-break *Williams 6-5 Sharapova
Sharapova takes a bit longer on her serve, bouncing the ball even more than she does normally. It doesn’t work though. Williams recovers from that ugly forehand on the previous point to come up with an unbelievable one on this. 6-4. Another two championship points. Sharapova sends a serve Exocet down the middle – what a serve! – and it’s 6-5. But this championship point is on Williams’s serve ....
Second set tie-break Williams 5-4 Sharapova*
The pair trade cross-court bombs and it’s Sharapova who implodes first. Williams turns her back on Sharapova and screams at herself to see this one through. 5-3. But Sharapova gets the mini-break back as Williams mis-times a forehand! That’s three she’s given away in this breaker ...
Second set tie-break *Williams 4-3 Sharapova
A loose forehand from Williams makes it 4-3, but she does still have the mini-break ...
Second set tie-break Williams 4-2 Sharapova*
Sharapova nets her first serve. Williams looks ready to pounce. Williams goes deep with a probing backhand return, Sharapova is able to get it back, Williams winds up but gets it all wrong. The pair change ends ...
Second set tie-break Williams 4-1 Sharapova*
But anything Sharapova can do ... Williams levels up at 1-1 and then drills her own forehand return winner down the line – before serving up her 17th ace to make it 3-1. Williams then wallops another forehand down the line to charge 4-1 ahead
Second set tie-break Williams 0-1 Sharapova*
Williams sends down a kick serve, Sharapova reads it with a return winner down the line
Second set: Williams 6-3, 6-6 Sharapova
Sharapova steps up, trying to force the tie-break. She takes two quick opening points. 30-0. Williams gives herself a bit of a talking to. And then an ace down the middle brings up game point. Williams is left stretching a sliding, and just fails to get her racket to it. A one-two punch from Sharapova and we’re into a tie-break. It’s the first of the tournament for Sharapova, the second for Williams following her semi-final against Madison Keys. Surprisingly, these two have only played two breakers in all their meetings, and Williams has won both.
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Second set: Williams 6-3, 6-5 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)So, can Williams recover from the disappointment of seeing that championship point come and go? She gets to 30-15, and another breathtaking point follows. 30-all. They’re battering the life out of the balls at the moment. Williams nudges 40-30 ahead. But Sharapova comes back at her with a backhand cross-court winner after a weak second serve from Williams lets Sharapova into the point. While Williams is in another league on her first serve, she’s struggling behind her second serve. But deuce turns into advantage Williams, and ace No16 seals the game.
Second set: *Williams 6-3, 5-5 Sharapova (*denotes next server)
So after an hour and 27 minutes Sharapova walks out to serve, knowing she must win this game to stay in the final and avoid a 16th straight defeat to Williams. Sharapova doesn’t get off to a good start, as a short ball near the T allows Williams to batter away a winner. 0-15. Williams looks like calmness personified, no “COME ON” there. A deep serve from Sharapova and Williams’s timing is off on the return. 15-all. Another gutsy serve from Sharapova and she pulls off a classic one-two punch, straight out of the tennis textbook. 30-15. But this time she goes for too much on the second serve and double faults. 30-all. The camera pans in on Williams with the trophy in the background. In two points’ time it could be hers for a sixth time. Make that one point. Sharapova looks like she’s going to make a forehand cross-court winner, but it flashes just wide. 40-30, championship point. Sharapova goes out wide with her serve, which sets up the point for her. Deuce. Even Williams uses her racket to applause. And then Sharapova reels Williams in with a drop shot! What a time to play it! Williams charges into the net, but almost too quickly. She can’t control the ball. Advantage Sharapova! And Sharapova holds! This is captivating tennis.
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Second set: Williams 6-3, 5-4 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
Credit to Sharapova for staying with Williams in this set. Few players would be able to. But she’s just not making enough in-roads into Williams’s serve. 15-0. 30-0. 40-0. Game Williams. Sharapova must hold serve to stay in the final.
In case Serena closes this out next game , let's pause now to acknowledge a thoroughly enjoyable , generally high level final...
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 31, 2015
Second set: *Williams 6-3, 4-4 Sharapova (*denotes next server)
Plenty of ooohs and aaaaahs from the Rod Laver crowd on the opening point, which Sharapova takes. Even Williams can see the funny side and lets out a wry smile. 15-0. 30-0. 40-0. Could this be a comfortable hold for Sharapova? She blinks on the fourth point, throwing in a double fault (only her third of the match, which, considering her problems on serve in recent years isn’t a bad stat). And from 40-15 she holds.
I don't often say this, but I wish this was best of five. Why does the fun have to end? #ausopen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 31, 2015
Nice calmness shown by SW after that hinderance call. Level raised with Maria doing well to hang on. Excellent tennis from both.
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) January 31, 2015
Second set: Williams 6-3, 4-3 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
Williams finds herself in a bit of a hole at 0-30. But she was 0-30 down in her previous service game and rattled off the next four points. She’s on course to repeat the trick as 15-30 becomes 30-all which becomes 40-30, courtesy of a 198 kph ace. Nothing Sharapova can do about that. Williams has only lost four points behind her first serve in the whole match. But Williams gives Sharapova a look-in on a second serve and Sharapova attacks for her 11th winner (Williams has hit 26 so far). Deuce. An unreturned serve down the T, advantage Williams. “COME ONNNNNNN!!!!” she screams, directly in Sharapova’s direction. Cue a steely Sharapova stare. And Williams gets called for a hindrance after a premature celebration on what she thought was a service winner! Deuce. Advantage Sharapova, as the Russian gets in on the “COME ONNNNNNN” act. These two are trying all they can to psych each other out. An inside-out forehand winner gets Williams to advantage and from there she takes the game with yes, you’ve guessed it, another ace, her 13th of the contest.
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Second set: *Williams 6-3, 3-3 Sharapova (*denotes next server) UGGGH! UGGGGH! UGGGGGGH! UGGGGGGGH! UGGGGGGGGH! UGGGGGGGGGGGH! UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH! Sharapova is giving it all she’s got, she has to to even stay in touch with Williams. 30-all. Sharapova can’t quite get the depth on her shot, Williams pounces with a cross-court backhand winner. 30-40. Break point. Williams loops a backhand into the tramlines. Deuce. Can Sharapova hold again from break points down? Possibly, because she somehow wins a point she didn’t look like she was going to as Williams slaps a forehand into the net and sinks to her knees in disgust. Advantage Sharapova. And she holds. Wonderful stuff. The intensity at the moment is quite frightening and the hitting breathtaking, especially considering how out of breath Williams was earlier in this match.
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Second set: Williams 6-3, 3-2 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
The intensity has been ratcheted up a notch here. Williams is in a spot of bother at 0-30. But she refocuses and at 30-all whacks a serve down the middle, which almost takes Sharapova’s head off. Williams doesn’t look bothered. Sharapova challenges in vain. 40-30. And then Williams lets out her biggest “COME ONNNNNNNNNNN” of the final so far. Williams has already hit twice as many winners as she did in the first set.
In 2nd set at 2-2, Serena down 0-30, but nails four huge service winners, anyway she wants. By far best serve in the game by long shot
— Matt Cronin (@TennisReporters) January 31, 2015
Second set: *Williams 6-3, 2-2 Sharapova (*denotes next server)
A moment of Hawk-Eye controversy at 15-all, Sharapova looks to the skies, perhaps hoping for some divine intervention. She’s being pushed to the limit here. She must be sick of the sight of Williams, especially today, considering she can’t even seem to get the better of Williams when she’s sick (however, Williams does look like a player rejuvenated since the interruption). Sharapova drags herself through the game to level up at 2-all.
Second set: Williams 6-3, 2-1 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
Sharapova’s other problem is that Williams’s serve is imperious, the best on tour. While Sharapova’s can break down at key moments, Williams’s gets her through so many matches, so many tight moments. Sharapova just isn’t reading the direction of Williams’s serve at the moment, and Williams charges to 40-0 at the blink of an eye. Which inevitably becomes game.
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Second set: *Williams 6-3, 1-1 Sharapova (*denotes next server)
Sharapova’s reluctance to mix the play up is again leading to her downfall. If Sharapova whacks the ball at Williams, Williams can whack it back just as hard, if not harder. You’d think after 15 straight defeats to an opponent, you’d try something different. She’s got nothing to lose, surely? Because look, it’s 15-40, another two break points for Williams. But one thing Sharapova does have in abundance is guts. She saves both of them to get back to deuce. And then it’s her advantage. The crowd are trying to will her through this game, they want a battle. And Sharapova gives them what they want by holding from 15-40 down.
SW has raised her level big time since the delay, Shazza has zero plan B, has to hope SW drops level = huge trouble
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) January 31, 2015
This is just a horrible match-up for Sharapova - pushed back, forced off balance, forced into going for too much. Massive hold there though
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) January 31, 2015
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Second set: Williams 6-3, 1-0 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
Williams holds serve to love quicker than it took me to embed that video into the game-by-game. Meanwhile an ominous stat for Sharapova:
.@SerenaWilliams takes opening set vs Sharapova 6-3! Serena 16-0 in Grand Slam finals when winning 1st set-> http://t.co/NBg7STWIdm #AusOpen
— WTA (@WTA) January 31, 2015
Some between-sets entertainment
“Enjoying your live blog,” writes Bill Code. “Wonder if you’d be interested in this video yesterday in praise of grunting tennis ladies, for a bit of fun?”
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WILLIAMS WINS THE FIRST SET 6-3
The second point has Williams fist pumping, somehow she stays in the rally, eventually leaving Sharapova with a tricky half-volley which the Russian nets. 0-30. And then Sharapova blazes wide. And look, another three break points. Make that set points. Williams has a 100% conversion rate on break points so far. A record she maintains as she blazes a backhand out of Sharapova’s reach. Williams affords herself a roar, despite her fragile condition. She’s a set up after 47 minutes.
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First set: Williams 5-3 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
Williams has the gift of new balls to serve for the set. Not that they help her on the opening point as she double faults. 0-15. She then tugs at a forehand, which goes long. 0-30. Sharapova jumps on the return, Williams looks to be on the back foot, and eventually nets, 0-40. Three break points for Sharapova, the first she’s had in this final. But three becomes two which becomes one. 30-40. But after her hard work to get back into it, Williams doubles! Her second of the game. Sharapova has the break but she’s still a break behind and must hold serve to stay in the set.
First set: *Williams 5-2 Sharapova (*denotes next server)
0-15, 0-30, 0-40 as Sharapova double faults. She hasn’t won a point since the resumption. Sharapova nets her first serve, but directs her second down the T, she’s in a strong position in the rally, but then drills a backhand long. So there’s the double break. Sharapova grimaces. Williams will serve for the first set.
Serena, looking deathbound, is haunting Sharapova from the grave now. Breaks at love for a 5-2 lead. #ausopen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 31, 2015
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First set: Williams 4-2 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
Williams makes her re-entrance, re-entrance, and the players resume straight away, as the interruption was fewer than 15 minutes there won’t be a warm-up. A great start from Williams, ace. So 30-all becomes 40-30. Which becomes game. She only had to hit three shots.
It's a Hard Court Life! RT @jonscott9 Ballkids mop up rain. @ChrissieEvert" It looks like the movie Annie." #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/R522QRnF3d
— Quinn Sutherland (@ReelQuinn) January 31, 2015
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The roof is on and Williams is back, hacking into her towel as she makes her re-entrance. I hope she’s not going to give that one back to the ball kids. They’ve already got enough to contend with. And now she’s gone again, apparently to visit the doctor. Williams is clearly struggling, but even a Williams well below her best could be enough to beat Sharapova considering the mental hold she has over her rival.
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Sharapova waiting it out on court, in her chair, while Serena has been seeking refuge in the hallway. Happy to spend time apart. #ausopen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 31, 2015
Play should resume in about 10 or 15 minutes. Sharapova is still on court hiding under her umbrella, Williams has wandered off and is pacing the corridors. Meanwhile the army of poor ball kids are still scrambling around on their knees, furiously soaking up the water with their towels.
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RAIN INTERRUPTS PLAY
Woof. Take that. Sharapova gets to 0-15 with a ferocious return, but Williams comes back at her, 15-all. These two are battering the lines to within about a millimetre of their lives at the moment. Again, Sharapova’s shot skids off the baseline. 15-30. 30-all. But oh no, it’s raining. And now it looks like it’s pouring. The umpire stops play, Williams and Sharapova are sitting on their chairs waiting to see if the rain will ease, but the skies look very ominous. And then the ball kids are on court, on their knees, mopping the rain up with their towels. It’s like the US Open. You’d think in the 21st century they could use something a bit more high-tech, wouldn’t you? It’s announced that the roof will be closed, it’s already half-closed, so the delay shouldn’t be too long. So it’ll be an indoor final from here on in.
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First set: *Williams 3-2 Sharapova (*denotes next server)
From 30-15, Williams overcooks a return. 40-15. Sharapova again goes for a drop shot on the next point, Williams is able to reach this one, but Sharapova is on to her, goes for the lob, which Williams cannot get back.
@TennisReporters Concern for Maria: Serena has not come close to striking ball with such accuracy out of the box yet in tourney
— John Massey (@JTMassey79) January 31, 2015
First set: Williams 3-1 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
This contest is warming up nicely now. The longest rally of the match so far on the first point. The pair go down the middle, down the middle, down the middle. Sharapova isn’t exactly renowned for her variety but then decides to throw in a cute drop shot, which leaves Williams slipping and sliding into the ground. Running to that would have hurt the lungs, especially in Williams’s condition. She’s breathing very heavily. 0-15. Williams recovers to 40-30 and then takes the game with an unreturned serve. Sharapova appeals to Hawk-Eye, but that confirms the ball grazed the service line.
First set: *Williams 2-1 Sharapova (*denotes next server)
Sharapova really needs to get on the scoreboard here. She starts the right way, getting to 15-0 and then 30-0. A probing serve out wide – Williams isn’t getting that back – and at full stretch the world No1 can only prod the ball into the net. And then Sharapova finishes the job off with a clean winner. She’s on the board.
Sharapova on the board with a love hold for 1-2, getting early strikes. She's actually won more rallies of 0-4 shots so far. #ausopen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 31, 2015
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First set: Williams 2-0 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)
At 15-0, Sharapova keeps Williams waiting as she performs her receiving ritual – turning her back on her opponent, picking on her racket strings and jumping up and down for even longer than usual. It seems to do the trick, as Williams double faults. 15-all. Which becomes 30-all. A wonderful exchange on the next point, Sharapova eventually throws in a short ball and Williams drills away a winner as she charges into the net. 40-30. Which quickly becomes game Williams.
First set: *Williams 1-0 Sharapova (*denotes next server)
Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Sharapova won the toss and will serve first. Straight away Williams is at Sharapova’s throat, with a rocket of a return which Sharapova can only net. And that was off a first serve. The following point is longer, but Sharapova blinks first, prodding long. 0-30. But then Williams batters a backhand return long, 15-30. And there’s another mistake from Williams, 30-all. Williams is going for first-strike tennis here, trying to get off to a quick start, trying to tell Sharapova who’s boss. Her tactic may also have to do with not wanting to be on court too long: she’s been struggling with a virus all fortnight, which apparently has worsened today, with a high temperature. She’s coughing and spluttering between most of the points. Again Williams goes for a bit too much on the return and hoiks a backhand into the tramlines. Then follows the best rally of the game, the pair trade cross-court blows before Williams fires off a forehand winner. Deuce. Advantage Williams, break point. And Sharapova double faults! First blood to Williams as she breaks.
Tik! Tok! Tik! Tok! Tik! Tok! The players are warming up, Williams is once again wearing her neon yellow and pink ensemble, Sharapova is dressed to kill in red.
There’s also a bit of drizzle in the air but it shouldn’t stop play from starting on time. The roof is still off, so if there is a downpour there will be an interruption. Eurosport helpfully cuts to an ad break as the pair face each other at the net for the coin toss. Though apparently they stood stony faced, with no hint of a smile or eye contact. No love lost between these two.
Serena complains to chair ump Alison Hughes about the rain/roof situation during coin toss, which Sharapova won and chose to serve. #ausopen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 31, 2015
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Here they are, weaving and winding their way through the corridors of Rod Laver Arena. Sharapova is striding about 10 metres ahead of Williams, the pair don’t acknowledge each other, no surprise there then. Sharapova is introduced to the crowd first, then follows Williams. Sharapova perhaps shades the reception. It doesn’t look like there’s a spare seat in the house. It’s a fairly chilly night in Melbourne, around 17 degrees, but that seems positively balmy compared to my icy/snowy journey into the office in zero-degree darkness.
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Prediction time
Was just out on Laver cool conditions and breezy perfect for SW, key stats tonight SW 70 Ace 14 double faults Shazza 24ace 30 double faults
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) January 31, 2015
Andy Murray predicts a Serena win, but points to Berdych and Stan breaking ducks vs Nadal here as sign anything is possible for Sharapova.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 31, 2015
A reporter asked me what should Maria do differently against Serena. What would surprise Serena? Guess my answer
— Patrick McEnroe (@PatrickMcEnroe) January 31, 2015
You got it tweeters Zero grunting, or screeching, depending on how you hear it. Chances???? Zero
— Patrick McEnroe (@PatrickMcEnroe) January 31, 2015
The vital stats
Williams-Sharapova
33 Age 27
5ft 9in Height 6ft 2in
1 World ranking 2
1 Seeding 2
64 Career titles 34
18 Grand slam titles 5
$63,500,779 Career prize money $32,730,228
16 Head to head 2 (lest Sharapova needs reminding)
The pair will be walking on to court (and most likely avoiding any pre-match niceties) at: 8.30am GMT/7.30pm Melbourne time. Which gives me enough time to mention Katie Swan’s defeat in the girls’ singles final. The Bristol-born, Kansas-based 15-year-old struggled with a leg injury in a 6-1, 6-4 defeat to Slovakian Tereza Mihalikova on Rod Laver Arena. Mind you, she’s in fine company. Laura Robson also lost in the Australian Open girls’ final, in 2009 and 2010.
Gr8 tourney for @katieswan99. Lots of wins + played junior #ausopen final on Rod Laver Arena. Whats not to love? :-) pic.twitter.com/st5PSmXAyn
— judy murray (@judmoo) January 31, 2015
Preamble
Good morning! (or afternoon or evening depending on your whereabouts). Welcome to coverage of the Australian Open women’s final and the latest instalment of the rivalry between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Except in head-to-head terms it isn’t much of a rivalry at all. While this will be their 19th meeting, Sharapova has lost 15 matches in a row since defeating Williams to win Wimbledon as a 17 year old in 2004. For us regular folk, it’s like playing that annoying older sibling who’s just that bit better than you. However hard you try, however many glimpses you get during the match, you get beaten up in the end. It’s inevitable. As inevitable as you choosing to go back for another beating. Time and time again. Because you think that maybe, just maybe, it’ll be different next time.
“It’s been a really difficult matchup for me,” said Sharapova after the semi-finals on Thursday (she declined to speak to the media on the eve of the final, presumably because she was tired of answering questions about her rotten run against Williams). “But I am a competitor. I will go out and do everything I can to try to change that result around. I think my confidence should be pretty high going into a final of a grand slam, no matter who I’m facing and whether I’ve had a terrible record – to say the least – against someone. It doesn’t matter. I got there for a reason. I belong in that spot. I will do everything I can to get the title.”
Sharapova certainly is a fierce competitor – the toughest on tour alongside Williams – which makes the world No2’s record against the world No1 all the more surprising. She’s rarely come close to beating Williams during the 10-and-a-half-year hoodoo, and has won only one set in their past 11 meetings. The statistics must be even more galling for Sharapova because there’s a bit of needle between her and Williams (much like two siblings, come to think of it, stretching the analogy further). They have battled each other off the court, most memorably in 2013 when they traded barbs about their personal lives. It’s no secret that these two don’t like each other very much, which makes this strangest of (un-)rivalries all the more compelling.
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