Sports
Serena Williams Dominates Maria Sharapova, Takes Claim as World’s Most Dominant Athlete
Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Chris Chase, USA TODAY
(USA Today)—The official time of Saturday’s women’s final at the Australian Open was one hour, 51 minutes. In reality, it ended in minute six. Maria Sharapova opened the match to serve. She had two game points. Serena Williams smacked those coldhearted winners that have defined their “rivalry” over the past 11 years on both. When Serena got her turn on break point, Sharapova double-faulted.
They might as well have given Serena the trophy then. If Sharapova had any chance to break the mental hold Serena has over her (now at 16 matches and counting), it was to hold serve early and possibly score a break. Instead, Serena drew first, and last, blood, winning 6-3, 7-6 (5) in moving to a staggering 19-4 in Grand Slam finals. The win was her record sixth Australian Open and snaps her five-year drought in Melbourne, which had been her longest of any Slam.
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