Maria Sharapova tries to end Serena Williams’ streak in Wimbledon semifinals
LONDON – Now it’s Maria Sharapova’s turn at Wimbledon to try to put an end to Serena Williams’ bid for the third leg of a calendar-year Grand Slam – and a fourth consecutive major title.
The No. 1-seeded Williams takes a 26-match Grand Slam winning streak, which began at last year’s U.S. Open, into her semifinal today at the All England Club against No. 4 Sharapova.
Williams has won 17 of their 19 career meetings, including the past 16 in a row. Both of Sharapova’s victories came in 2004.
“I haven’t had great success against her. I would love to change that around,” Sharapova said. “That’s how I look at it.”
Their most recent matchup came in the final of the Australian Open in January, when Williams won in straight sets for her 19th Grand Slam title. Williams then won the French Open last month for No. 20. In the Open era, only Steffi Graf has won more, 22.
Graf was also the last player to win all four major championships in a single season, in 1988. If Williams can beat Sharapova, then beat either No. 13 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland or No. 20 Garbine Muguruza of Spain in Saturday’s final, the 33-year-old American would be three-quarters of the way to a true Grand Slam.