Maria Sharapova is 'bothered' by match with nemesis Serena Williams
Russian has the odds stacked against her as she faces in-form nemesis Williams in today's final
Maria Sharapova was not even an adult the last time she beat Serena Williams, it was that long ago.
It was at the WTA Championships and Sharapova was 17. Nearly nine years later, she now finds herself playing to deny Williams her 16th grand slam title in the French Open final today, where the Russian has to overcome overwhelming odds to defend her title.
Well, I'd be lying if it doesen't bother me. I'd love to change that around
Williams has won 13 of her 15 matches against Sharapova and has won their last 12 matches on all surfaces.
"Well, I'd be lying if it doesn't bother me," Sharapova said. "I don't think that it would be a pretty competitive statement if I said [it] didn't. I would love to change that around."
Comparing Thursday's semi-finals, the odds of that happening look extremely thin.
Williams crushed last year's finalist Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1, spending nearly a third of the time on court than Sharapova did in her gritty 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 win against Victoria Azarenka.
"I have never played Maria here," said Williams, who won her only Roland Garros title 11 years ago when she beat sister Venus in the final. "We're both really excited to be this far."