By Chris Oddo | Thursday, July 9, 2015
Serena Wimbledon continued her domination of Maria Sharapova without much drama, 6-2, 6-4, on Thursday at Wimbledon.
Photo Source: Wimbledon
One game—and three nervy double-faults—into the second Wimbledon semifinal of Day 10 and there was already a collective sigh at Wimbledon’s Centre Court. After 16 consecutive losses to Serena Williams and a decade full of disappointment, a build-up of hope can evaporate as quickly as a tiny bead of morning dew beneath an unforgiving mid-day sun.
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79 minutes later, the predictable outcome had once again been reached. A 6-2, 6-4 victory for Williams over Maria Sharapova, her 27th in a row at the majors and her 17th in a row against the sport’s second-most decorated player.
“I think she played really well,” said Williams, matter-of-factly. “When she stepped up her game I was able to step up mine as well. It wasn’t easy out there. It was interesting.”
How such giant canyon can exist between these two supremely talented players is a testament to the greatness of Serena Williams. Of all her shining achievements—the Grand Slam titles, the Serena Slams, the week’s at No. 1—her uncanny ability to fold the Russian up, put her in her back pocket and sit back down on her tennis throne might be the most remarkable.
Today’s story was, as is typically the case, told between the ears. Williams, focused and calm, relying on patterns so elementally grooved that she appears to be capable of playing and beating Sharapova in her sleep. Sharapova, nervous and inhibited, characterized by her refusal to abandon her comfort zone and throw the kitchen sink at her rival.
“How do you stand in the exact same position every single time and have no success returning Serena’s serve?” said ESPN’s Brad Gilbert during a post-match breakdown. “Where is the coaching adjustment? Give yourself a different look, give Serena a different look. If you’re not flexible to make adjustments, how are you going to stop this streak?”
The stats bear that out: Sharapova only won four points—two in each set—against the Williams’ first serve. The Russian never saw a break point, and even though she rallied in the second set and played some of her best tennis to hold serve in the ninth game to force Williams to serve it out, there was never a feeling that she might mount a rally.
Williams served three aces in the final game to close affairs in 79 minutes, extending a run of domination and setting her up for a shot at another—the Serena Slam—on Saturday.
In the end, William finished with 29 winners to only 9 for Sharapova. She hit 13 aces and broke serve on three of nine opportunities.
“I always expect her to play the best tennis against myself and a few other elite players,” Sharapova told reporters after the match. “She does always come up with great tennis. You have to be able not just to produce your best tennis but more. Obviously it hasn’t happened for me.”
Williams has not lost a match at a major since falling to Alize Cornet at Wimbledon last year, and as the talk ramps up about the possibilities of her becoming the first Calendar Slam winner since Steffi Graf in 1988, Williams’ reluctance to talk about it has also ramped up.
“No, no, no, no, no, no,” she said, as a BBC commentator tried to rustle up the talk. Then she added: “At least I made it to the final of four. That’s pretty good.”
Williams will now look forward to battling for her sixth career Wimbledon title against first-time major finalist Garbine Muguruza. The Spaniard edged Agnieszka Radwanska in a thrilling semifinal, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, and actually owns a win over Williams at a Grand Slam. Last year at the French Open she handed Williams her worst ever loss at a major, 6-2, 6-2.
It’s an experience that Williams hasn’t forgotten and she says she’s learned from it. “She made me improve, so she has me on my toes,” said Williams. “She’s a really good player and she obviously has what it takes. It’s not going to be an easy match and I’ll be fighting a lot.”