Serena Williams says she doesn’t remember much about the first time she played Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open.
It was 11 years ago, after all, way back in 2005. But she does remember the outcome.
“I was down a match point. I remember hitting it as hard as I could,” recalled Williams, who ultimately saved three match points in that semifinal. “I remember, obviously, winning and that was really great.”
Sharapova remembers it, too. Mainly because her 17-match losing streak against Williams started that day.
Both players advanced on Sunday to the Australian Open quarterfinals where they will meet in a high-profile rematch of last year’s final and the latest installment in their long running rivalry.
“I look forward to playing the best in the world, and that’s what she’s proven in the last year — the last many years,” Sharapova said about Williams after beating Belinda Bencic 7-5, 7-5 in the fourth-round on Sunday.
Williams has powered through the first week at the Australian Open without dropping a set. Asked if her record against Sharapova gives her extra confidence, she said it doesn’t matter to her who she plays. “I just feel like I’m really confident in my game right now, not against her or against any other opponent” in particular, William said after beating Margarita Gasparyan 6-2, 6-1.
With another championship in Melbourne, Williams would equal Steffi Graf’s 22 major singles titles. Margaret Court, the Australian great who won 24 Grand Slam singles titles and has a stadium named in her honor at Melbourne Park, was in the crowd watching Williams.
Before her match, Williams was keeping an eye on Sharapova’s match and noted that she “had a really good win today.” Sharapova hit a career-high 21 aces and hit 58 winners, converting her second match point.
The five-time Grand Slam winner last won the Australian Open in 2008 and has been a finalist four times.
When her rivalry with Williams started out, she had the lead. Sharapova won consecutive matches against Williams in 2004, at Wimbledon and the season-ending championships, but hasn’t won since.