Looking back at the top Serena vs. Maria matchups
The US Open Women's draw came out on Thursday and one first-round match up caught all the attention. These two Grand Slam champions go all the way back to 2004, where they faced each other the first time. They've played a total of 22 matches against each other during their careers and there has been some under-the-table controversy between the two over the years. So who will be starring in this epic New York opener? Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.
The No. 8 seed Williams will face world No. 81 Sharapova in Monday's highly-anticipated matchup. She doesn't seem ruffled by the upcoming showdown.
In excitement for their 23rd battle, let's look back at their three best matches.
1
The 2004 WTA Championships Final
Sharapova was beaming with confidence and came into the tournament boasting four titles, including her most notable maiden Slam triumph at Wimbledon. The 17-year-old executed her shots with precision to defeat Serena 4-6, 6-2. 6-4, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Serena, who suffered a knee injury and was out for eight months, only had two titles to show that season, and in this final she began feeling pain in her abdomen. The last thing Serena wanted was to be out another six months, so she decided to ease up on serves and Sharapova didn't miss any chances to attack. This three-set showdown is the last match Sharapova has won against the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
2
The 2005 Australian Open Semifinal
Serena silenced Sharapova and captured revenge after being dismissed by Sharapova at Wimbledon and the WTA Championships the previous year but it wasn't easy. Sharapova served for the match in the second in the second and third sets, but Serena battled to save three match points before advancing to the tournament's final, where she would defeat Lindsey Davenport. The 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 victory is significant for Serena because she was one point away from exiting the tournament; instead she prevailed to claim her seventh Grand Slam title, ending an 18-month drought without one.
3
The 2010 Wimbledon round of 16
It was just six years ago when Sharapova commanded the court in the Centre Court final, but in this meeting it was quite the opposite. There were moments of flickering hope for the Russian but it wasn't enough to stop Serena, as she took the round of 16 match, 7-6, 6-4. Suffering a shoulder injury in 2009 really damaged Sharapova's self-belief and her tennis was not in the same place as it once was. Although the score was close, her lack of consistency in critical moments gave Serena the edge.
They last faced off at the 2016 Australian Open, with Serena winning 6-4, 6-1. In New York, Serena will be attempting to reach a record-breaking 24-Grand Slams but hasn't played much tennis this year and she recently retired from her Montreal final against Bianca Andreescu. Meanwhile Sharapova suffered a lingering right shoulder injury that kept her off the court for nearly six months this season.
Williams leads 19-3 in their head-to-head count. So, who will take the first round? The US Open action begins in just four days.
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