Serena Williams has hit out at comments Maria Sharapova wrote about her in a book ahead of their fourth round clash at the French Open.
Last year, Sharapova released Unstoppable: My life so far. The memoir mentioned Williams over 100 times in total, but the most striking concerned their clash in the final of the 2004 Wimbledon Championships. Where Sharapova defeated the American. Looking back on the occasion, she wrote ‘I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon. But mostly I think she hated me for hearing her cry.’ Sharapova later claimed that she heard Williams telling a friend that she ‘will never lose to that little b**** again.’
There had been no comment from the 23-time grand slam champion concerning the book until now. Following her straight sets win over Julia Goerges at the French Open on Saturday, Williams has blasted the claims as ‘hearsay.’ Saying that she has read the book herself.
“The book was 100% hearsay, at least all the stuff I read and the quotes that I read, which was a little bit disappointing.” Said Williams.
“I have cried in the locker room many times after a loss, and that’s what I have seen a lot of people do. I think it’s normal. I think if anything, it shows the passion and the desire and the will that you have to want to go out there and do the best.
“It’s a Wimbledon final, you know. I think it would be more shocking if I wasn’t in tears.”
The 36-year-old continued her criticism of Sharapova. Arguing that the incident shouldn’t have been written in a ‘not-so-positive’ way in the book. The two players will lock horns at Roland Garros on Monday in the fourth round. Williams currently has a commanding 19-2 head-to-head record, winning her last 18 matches against Sharapova.
“I wanted to read the book and I was really excited for it to come out and I was really happy for her.” She said of Sharapova.
“And then the book was a lot about me. I was surprised about that, to be honest. I was,like ‘Oh, okay.’ I didn’t expect to be reading a book about me, that wasn’t necessarily true.”
Despite her remarks, Williams insists that she has no hard feelings against her Russian rival. Contradicting what was said in the book. She also described Sharapova’s press conference in which she confirmed a failed drugs test as ‘brave.’
“I don’t have any negative ‘feelings towards her, which again, was a little disappointing to see in that hearsay book.” She stated.
“Whenever I play her, obviously I go out there the way I play everyone else. I go extremely hard, and I don’t play anyone different.”
On Monday Williams will be bidding to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the 11th time in her career.
What Sharapova wrote about Williams
“It went on and on. I got out as quickly as I could, but she knew I was there. People often wonder why I have had so much trouble beating Serena; she’s owned me in the past ten years. My record against her is 2 and 19.
In analyzing this, people talk about Serena’s strength, her serve and confidence, how her particular game matches up to my particular game, and, sure there is truth to all of that; but, to me, the real answer was there, in this locker room, where I was changing and she was bawling. I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon.”
source – Unstoppable: My life so far
