Aussie Open: Sharapova confident coming up against nemesis Serena Williams

SELF belief and patience are absolute non-negotiables if Maria Sharapova is to win a second Australian Open singles crown.
Frankly, neither will be natural instincts when she faces nemesis Serena Williams across the Rod Laver Arena net in tomorrow night’s final.
It’s more than a decade since Sharapova last beat Williams, scrounging just three sets off the current world No. 1 in their past 15 meetings.
No-one needed to remind Sharapova of her 2-16 head-to-head embarrassment against Williams, the last success way back at the Tour championship in Los Angeles in late 2004.
“It has been a really difficult match-up for me, but I’m a competitor. I will go out and I will do everything I can to try to change that result around,’’ the Russian said.
“I think my confidence should be pretty high going into a final of a grand slam (championship) no matter who I’m facing and whether I’ve had a terrible record. It doesn’t matter. I got there for a reason. I belong in that spot.’’
Williams described harbouring “a lot of pride’’ in her intimidating hold over Sharapova, but cautioned that it didn’t count for much in the final.
“She has nothing to lose and I feel that way too. I’ve won this title a number of times and it’s not life and death for me. That helps me relax,’’ she said.
“My game matches up against her. I just love playing her. I have the time of my life.’’
Sharapova admitted that a patient game plan was critical to avoid being seduced into chasing winners by Williams’ aggressive approach and power hitting.
“I think that has always made me a little bit too aggressive, maybe going for a little bit more than I had to,’’ she said.
“She’s great at making players hit that shot that you don’t necessarily have to go for.’’
Sharapova earned a shot at redemption by crushing fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 6-2 in a lopsided semi-final.
And Williams ensured the top two seeds would square off in the final with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 win against American teenager Madison Keys.
Williams was always in control of Keys, holding her nerve despite the 19-year-old saving a staggering seven match points on serve at 1-5 in the second set.
Sharapova’s sternest test against Makarova was managing the opening game nerves.
She doggedly fought off two break points and eventually needed more than 10 minutes just to hold serve.
The first three games took 20 minutes as a tentative but determined Sharapova worked hard to stamp her control on the match.
“It was important to really stand my ground in the first few games, which I did well even though I was behind. Yeah, those key moments are really important,’’ she said.