The 43-year-old played for almost three decades and captured the biggest titles on multiple occasions against her biggest rivals. There are certain battles that optimise a player’s legacy and their success in the game and the 23-time Grand Slam champion engaged in a special battle back in 2005.
This was a match that not only helped Serena Williams win a big title, but changed the trajectory of a rivalry forever
Entering the 2005 season, WIlliams already had six Grand Slam titles to her game.
But she began that campaign after going through 2004 without winning a major. Maria Sharapova contributed to that drought by defeating Williams in that year’s Wimbledon final.
The Russian defeated Williams again in the final of the season-ending championships, and she was going for a third successive win over her rival in the final four of the 2005 Australian Open.
Sharapova made a lightning start by taking the first set 6-2. She then broke Williams’ serve to go up 5-4 and serve for a place in the final. But the American stormed back and claimed the next three games to take the match in the deciding set.
The pair exchanged breaks of serve in the early stages of set three, before Sharapova broke at 5-4 to serve for the match for a second time. Once again Williams would not be denied and saved three match points before drawing level at 5-5.
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