Australian Open 2015 Women's Singles Final Highlights: Serena Williams Overcomes Maria Sharapova
Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova in straight sets to claim Australian Open 2015 title. She now has 19 Grand Slam singles titles to her name.
In a battle between two giants of women's tennis, Serena Williams outlasted Maria Sharapova to win Australian Open 2015 title.
© AFP
04.07 (IST): Serena holds on and wins! What a moment and what incredible celebrations from the American as she jumps repeatedly to stamp her dominance in international tennis.
04.03 (IST): Amazing emotions on display from Serena. She has been very expressive in this game. Sharapova on the other hand, has been her usual blank self although she is giving a great fight to the top seed.
03.54 (IST): Serena now up 6-5. Can Sharapova serve to save match once again?
03.48 (IST): Sharapova survives match point to make it 5-5 in the second set.
03.41 (IST): Serena now 5-4 up in the second and Sharapova will serve to save the match and stay alive in the final.
03.39 (IST): On her serve, Sharapova shows giving up is not an option as she draws level at 4-4 in the second.
03.34 (IST): Serena now has 13 aces in the match and leads 6-3, 4-3.
03.25 (IST): Sharapova survives, makes it 3-3 in the second set. Serena will now serve and she has enjoyed a lot of advantage with it.
03.15 (IST): The second set is turning out to be a see-saw battle. Serena manages to take a 2-1 lead first but Sharapova refuses to go down without a fight and makes it level at 2-2.
03.05 (IST):Did you know? The last Russian to beat Serena was Ekaterina Makarova. That was in the 2012 Australian Open. Going by the American's record since - overall and specifically against Russians - Sharapova has an uphill task.
03.00 (IST): Serena takes the first set 6-3. A dominant performance from the American after the rain break, leaving Sharapova with absolutely no chance of making a comeback.
02.53 (IST): Serena carving out a lead and now is ahead 4-2 in the first set.
02.48 (IST):The ladies are back on court as clouds scamper away and officials make conditions playable at lightening speed.
© AP
02.43 (IST): Rain brings an abrupt halt to proceedings here. Serena in front at the moment.
02.36 (IST): It's very tight between the two top seeds. Both Williams and Sharapova let out an array of powerful serves again to hold respective serves. Serena leads 3-2.
02.28 (IST): Sharapova serves, and serves very well! She opens her account. Serena leads first set 2-1.
02.26 (IST): Early pressure on Sharapova as Serena holds onto her serve to take a 2-0 lead.
02.20 (IST): Serena breaks Sharapova's serve! Serena gets off to a ruthless start, breaking Sharapova's serve in the opening game of the match to go up 1-0.
02.12 (IST): The match is about to get underway. Sharapova to serve first in the final vs Serena.
01.57 (IST): FACTOID: Serena Williams has a 16-2 head-to-head win record vs Sharapova. Serena has won their last 15 encounters, dating back until 2004. The pressure on Sharapova will be immense today.
01.51 (IST): Who will add to their tally today?
Which player will have another year added to their names on the #ausopen Walk Of Champions? pic.twitter.com/r6BxUe64iR
- Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2015
01.35 (IST): FACTOID: Maria Sharapova hasn't beaten Serena Williams since she was 17-years-old. Can she turn the tide today?
01.35 (IST): Here's what Serena has to say in her pre-final interview.
Is it record breaking & making what motivates @serenawilliams? Find out in her pre-final interview. #ausopen https://t.co/ANygvcrmhC
- Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2015
01.14 (IST): Little under one hour to go for the final showdown. Here's what Maria Sharapova has to say ahead of the big final.
Fun fact: This is @MariaSharapova's 12th #ausopen. Hear her pre-final thoughts before it kicks off. https://t.co/mX4ICz4iek
- Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2015
Serena vs Sharapova - the great rivalry
The bitter rivalry between Australian Open finalists Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova took root on the hallowed Wimbledon turf in 2004 and is still thriving more than a decade later -- both on and off the court.
Sharapova was a 17-year-old unknown when she stunned the tennis world by winning at the All England club in 2004, going on to become a superstar with five Grand Slams who ranks as the world's highest paid female athlete. (Read more)
Serena surprised to be in Aus Open final
Serena Williams overcame feisty teenage challenger Madison Keys to set up a dream Australian Open final with Maria Sharapova on Thursday but seemed to be the only person surprised she had made it that far.
The world number one had to battle against Keys, considered the heir apparent as the queen of American womens' tennis, before she eventually overcame the 19-year-old 7-6(5) 6-2 to set up the final against the Russian.
Williams, a five times champion at Melbourne Park, however, felt she entered the tournament in a funk, having played badly at the Hopman Cup in Perth earlier this month and mindful she had crashed out to lower-ranked players in the last three years. (Read more)
Sharapova Shrugs off Serena Dominance
econd seed Maria Sharapova insisted on Thursday that her "terrible" record against arch-rival Serena Williams was irrelevant after booking an Australian Open final showdown with the American top seed.
"I think my confidence should be pretty high going into a final of a Grand Slam no matter who I'm facing and whether I've had a terrible record, to say the least, against someone," she said.
"It doesn't matter. I got there for a reason. I belong in that spot. I will do everything I can to get the title." (Read more)