Williams beats Sharapova again, wins 19th Grand Slam title
(Agencies) Updated: 2015-02-01 14:40
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Serena Williams (L) of the US and Maria Sharapova of Russia pose with their trophies after their women's singles final match at the Australian Open 2015 tennis tournament in Melbourne January 31, 2015. [Photo/Agencies] |
"When I think about Paris, I don't think about 20. I just think about winning there," said Williams, who didn't reach a quarterfinal in a Grand Slam between her wins at the 2013 and 2014 U.S. Opens.
Still affected by a recent cold, Williams controlled the first set around a rain delay when play was stopped for 13 minutes during the sixth game for the roof on Rod Laver Arena to be closed. Williams came back on court momentarily, but returned to the locker room.
"I had a really bad cough, I ended up throwing up," Williams said. "I think in a way that just helped me - I felt better after that."
She returned to court and fired an ace to start a run of six straight points to take the set away from Sharapova.
Williams won the first six points of the second set, too, before Sharapova started hitting out.
The five-time major winner had 18 of her 21 winners in the second set, and fended off four break points.
No. 2-ranked Sharapova saved two match points, including one in the 10th game when she hit a forehand winner down the line, and she calmly held serve twice to stay in the match. In the end, though, it wasn't enough to end a decade-long losing streak to Williams.
"I haven't beaten her in a long time but I love every time I step on the court with her," said Sharapova, who trails 17-2 in career head-to-heads against Williams and hasn't beaten the American since 2004. "I've had some of the best memories of my career on this court and also some of my toughest losses, but that's the life of a tennis player."
On the men's side, Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli became the first all-Italian team to capture a Grand Slam men's doubles title in more than 50 years after beating French pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 6-4.
Novak Djokovic has won all four times he's reached the Australian Open final and is aiming to maintain his 100 percent record when he takes on Andy Murray in Sunday's singles final.
