Maria Sharapova is looking forward to a potential meeting with Serena Williams in the fourth round of the French Open, although she expects it to be very difficult should the American beat Julia Goerges.
Two-time former champion Sharapova sealed her spot in the round of 16 of Roland Garros with a 6-2, 6-1 annihilation of Karolina Pliskova on Saturday, setting up a potential blockbuster face-off with Williams, who will have to overcome the challenge of the dangerous German Goerges if she is to meet Sharapova in the much anticipated clash.
The Russian, who has defeated Serena only two times in their previous 21 meetings acknowledged that it will be a difficult battle, but claimed she would try her best to accomplish only her third victory over the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
“I think any time you play against Serena you know what you’re up against,” Sharapova said.
“You know the challenge that is upon you. You know, despite the record that I have against her, I always look forward to coming out on the court and competing against the best player.
“I will look forward to doing that if she wins this one.”
“I think there is a lot of things in her game that she’s done much better than I have. I mean, the records don’t certainly elaborate on that. Numbers don’t lie,” she added.
“But of course, I came into Europe and Stuttgart with not a great record, not playing great tennis with a lot of injuries, and have been able to turn that around a little bit.
“Being able to put myself in this position of playing better tennis. That’s what I continue to work for, of course. You don’t put those hours on the back courts in Bradenton-frickin-Florida, to – you know what I mean – to just show up at events like this and not bring it.”
