One of the most enticing rivalries in all of tennis continues to be one of the most lopsided.
Together, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova have earned more than $100 million in prize money, with the glamorous duo boosting that lofty total through endorsements — especially the latter, who is habitually named the world’s richest female athlete.
They are also considered the two most mentally tough active players in women’s tennis.
But when Williams crushed Sharapova 6-2 6-4 in southwest London on Thursday to reach the Wimbledon final against Gar-bine Mu-gu-ru-za — a 21-year-old who hadn’t advanced past the second round in two prior visits to SW19 — it was her 17th consecutive victory over the U.S.-based Russian.
“Whenever I know I have to play Maria, I know I have to be focused because she wasn’t the best in the world for no reason,” Williams told reporters, referring to Sharapova’s former ranking of No. 1.
Sharapova last defeated Williams at the year-end championships in 2004 and has dropped the past 14 sets to her.
“I expect myself to be a champion of these events, and it’s disappointing to come out as a loser because I know my level can be there, and my level can be at the point of holding these championship trophies,” the fourth seed told reporters. “I know that that’s what keeps me going forward.”
Having brushed aside Sharapova, Williams can now focus firmly on Saturday’s final, when she will attempt to overcome Mu-gu-ru-za to complete the “Serena Slam” for a second time and land a 21st major.
The 20th seed earlier edged 2012 finalist Ag-nie-szka Rad-wan-ska 6-2 3-6 6-3 in a less talked about but ultimately more compelling semifinal to become the first Spanish woman to make a grand slam final since Conchita Martinez — her Fed Cup captain — at the French Open 15 years ago. The Spanish men, led by Rafael Nadal, have no such drought.
Mu-gu-ru-za is bidding to become the second Spanish woman to triumph at Wimbledon after Martinez in 1994.
Only two other Spanish women, A-rant-xa Sanchez-Vi-ca-rio and Lili de Alvarez — in the 1920s — have ever contested the final of the most prestigious event in tennis.
