Maria Sharapova once highlighted that her loss to Serena Williams at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships was more devastating than any previous defeat against the American. Their showdown in the semifinals of the prestigious grasscourt tournament was highly anticipated.
Williams continued her dominant streak against Sharapova, extending her winning record to 20 victories out of their 22 encounters. The American secured her 17th consecutive win over the Russian in the semifinals of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 triumph.
Their rivalry was marked not only by fierce competition on the court but also by the contrast in their playing styles and personalities. Sharapova’s determined baseline play often clashed with Williams’ powerful serve and aggressive tactics, making each match a spectacle for tennis fans worldwide.
Off the court, both players have been symbols of determination and resilience in the face of adversity, with Williams overcoming injury setbacks and Sharapova navigating challenges on and off the court. Despite their competitive rivalry, both athletes have expressed mutual respect and admiration for each other’s accomplishments and contributions to women’s tennis.
The 2015 Wimbledon semifinal was another chapter in their storied rivalry, showcasing Williams’ relentless pursuit of greatness and Sharapova’s unwavering determination to compete at the highest level.
Following her misfortune, Maria Sharapova was gotten some information about her mentality with respect to the loss, as it gave the idea that this misfortune had ‘hurt’ her more than her past misfortunes to Serena Williams. The Russian, notwithstanding, addressed how the writer had come to that end result.
“What makes you say that?” she questioned during her post-match press conference.
She also disputed the journalist’s belief that she seemed angrier at his loss compared to her most recent defeat to Williams, which took place in the 2015 Australian Open final.
“In five minutes, you can see that I’m more angry?” she responded.
Sharapova then addressed her show of frustration, disclosing that it was tough to attend press conferences directly after losses, as there wasn’t enough time to prepare explanations for the questions players were expected to answer.
“Press conferences are always about 30 minutes or 45 or an hour after a match. It’s tough to come in here after a loss as a competitor and give you many smiles or certain explanations. It happens really fast. So, yeah, there’s not really much to say,” she said.
Maria Sharapova: “I always expect Serena Williams to play the best tennis against myself and a few other elite players”
During the same press conference, Maria Sharapova reflected on her struggles against Serena Williams. She emphasized the importance of producing one’s best tennis against the American but admitted that she hadn’t been able to do so.
“Yeah, I mean, I always expect her to play the best tennis against myself and a few other elite players. She does always come up with great tennis. You have to be able not to just produce your best tennis, but more. Obviously it hasn’t happened for me,” she said.
The Russian also expressed her belief that Williams knew she had to deliver her best effort against Sharapova and others like Victoria Azarenka, while conceding that they weren’t able to do the same as consistently as the American.
“I think when she plays against me, she certainly does that. That’s why she’s in the position she’s in. I don’t think it’s a secret. I think she knows against certain players she needs to bring out her best,” Maria Sharapova said.”The way that she plays Azarenka, myself, maybe a few others, she has to bring it on the line. We know we have to. We’re not able to do that as consistent as she does,” she added.