Maria Sharapova will face Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarter-finals, renewing a long-running rivalry between the two.
Whenever the pair meet, the focus goes beyond tennis but into commercial and, occasionally, very personal matters.
The quarter-final match-up was confirmed after both Sharapova and Williams won their last-16 games in Melbourne, although in somewhat contrasting circumstances.
Sharapova, the number five seed, had a tough time of it in her match against Swiss Belinda Bencic, eventually prevailing 7-5, 7-5 in two hours and six minutes.
The 2008 champion fired down 21 aces in the victory, but also served seven double faults and made 46 unforced errors.
Williams, who is seeking to add to her 21 Grand Slam titles, including six Australian Open crowns, was in imperious form as she dealt with 21-year-old Russian Gasparyan, winning 6-2, 6-1 in just under an hour.
Speaking on court after the game, the 34-year-old American did not appear to be too fazed by the prospect of facing Sharapova: “I had no idea I was playing her next. She [Sharapova] had a really good match earlier, but I’ve got nothing to lose and will just do my best.”
The quarter final will continue an on-court rivalry that Williams has dominated, having defeated the Russian in their last 17 games – a run stretching back to 2004.
Williams has 21 Grand Slams to Sharapova’s five, and she beat the 28-year-old in the Australian Open final last year, winning 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
The last time the pair met was in the Wimbledon semi-finals last July, when Williams won 6-2, 6-4.
Off the court, however, things are very different, with Sharapova very much being the dominant force.
