In Melbourne, Serena Williams is perfect against Maria Sharapova
After straight–sets victories in the fourth round, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will meet in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday at 8:45 p.m. ET.
The match marks the fourth meeting between Williams and Sharapova in Melbourne. Sharapova beat No. 12 Belinda Bencic in the fourth round, while Williams dominated Margarita Gasparyan.
Williams, the tournament's top seed, is seeking her record–tying 22nd Gram Slam singles title, while No. 5 Sharapova is looking for her sixth Grand Slam title and her second in Melbourne.
The reigning and six-time Australian Open champion, Williams has never lost to Sharapova at Melbourne Park and has beaten her in 17 straight meetings. The Russian last triumphed over the American in the 2004 WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles.
Ahead of the duo’s quarterfinal match, here’s a look back at their three previous Australian Open matches.
• 2016 Australian Open quarterfinals preview
Semifinal, 2005
Tony Feder/AP Images
Williams d. Sharapova 2–6, 7–5, 8–6
At the 2005 Australian Open, No. 7 Williams earned one of her most memorable wins in Melbourne in the semifinal against Sharapova, seeded No. 4.
Despite twice serving for the match and leading in all three sets, Sharapova eventually succumbed 2–6, 7–5, 8–6 to Williams, who saved three match points in the third set.
“It definitely lived up to everyone’s expectations and it was a lot of fun,” Williams said after the semifinal. “I am really happy to get through.”
The victory set Williams up for a finals meeting with then-world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, who Williams ultimately defeated 2–6, 6–3, 6–0 for her second Australian Open and seventh Grand Slam singles title.
• WERTHEIM: 2016 Australian Open midterm grades
Final, 2007
Steve Holland/AP Images
Williams d. Sharapova 6–1, 6–2
Williams entered the 2007 Australian Open unseeded and ranked No. 81 in the world after missing nine tournaments in 2006. On the contrary, Sharapova entered the tournament seeded No. 1 after winning the 2006 U.S. Open. Sharapova defeated No. 4 Kim Clijsters in straight sets in the semifinals to set up her final with Williams.
Despite Sharapova's superior ranking, Williams dominated the 2007 final from the start, as Sharapova managed to hold service just once in the first set and twice in the second, eventually falling 6–1, 6–2 to the American.
The win earned Williams her third singles title at Melbourne Park and made her the first unseeded woman in the Open Era to win the tournament since Chris O’Neil in 1978.
• LISANTI: Raonic tops Wawrinka to reach quarterfinals
Final, 2015
Kydpl Kyodo/AP Images
Williams d. Sharapova 6–3, 7–6(5)
The 2015 Australian Open final featured the top two players in the world in Williams and Sharapova, respectively.
Sharapova was dominant leading up to the final, dropping just one of 13 sets through her first six rounds of the tournament and losing only 15 games in her previous four matches. Conversely, Williams’s path to the final had not been quite as smooth, as she lost her first sets of the third and fourth rounds and faced a total of 31 break points before meeting Sharapova.
But Williams, 33, prevailed in the final. She recorded 38 winners to Sharapova’s 21 to defeat the Russian 6–3, 7–6(5) and become the oldest winner of the Australian Open women’s singles title in the Open Era.
The victory marked Williams's 19th Grand Slam title, vaulting her over Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for second all–time in the Open Era.
Sharapova enters Monday's match 2–18 in her career against Williams.
