Olympics, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Maria Kirilenko, Victoria Azarenka
Serena Williams will be a favorite going into the Olympics singles final, with a 8-2 record against Maria Sharapova, which comprises of seven of the Americans’ most recent victories. Serena struggle for the Olympic gold has fared well so far and the 30-year-old has lost only 16 games in a five-round journey. While Serena Williams has dominated each set in every single game, Maria Sharapova slipped on one occasion.The America clearly annihilated her competition and never looked back after a impressive first set, finishing the game against No.1 seed Victoria Azarenka with 6-1 6-2 under just 63 minutes.
"When you're playing the best player in the world, you've got to play well," Serena Williams stated after the match. "I felt like I had nothing to lose – just going for it."
"I warmed up probably five or six times. But I can wait with the best of them," said Serena Williams.
That wait hasn’t been bad for Serena Williams, who is enjoying the lively atmosphere of the Olympics and has garnered a great support from the crowd.
"I'm just enjoying myself," stated Serena Williams. "It's just a great vibe to have the USA fans and all the other countries' fans that come out and root really, really hard. It's an unbelievable experience."
Maria Sharapova’s performance was satisfactory on the whole but she seemed to struggle on the second set against her Russian opponent, No.14 seed Maria Kirilenko, but volleyed on her second match point to reclaim the game.
"Obviously it's tough to play a Russian on the other side of the net, but I'm happy that one of us can go for gold," stated the first time Olympian Maria Sharapova.
After achieving every major title over her career, Maria Sharapova has a standing chance at the Olympics gold especially considering that she is coming off a career Grand Slam with a title in the French Open.
Serena Williams has an equal claim to the title with 14 career Grand Slams and a Wimbledon title just last month. So far, Serena Williams has been unstoppable on the grass and from her tone it seems that things will not change in the Olympics singles final.
"I really look forward to playing Maria," said Serena Williams, who knows the Russian will be hard to take down. "I haven't played her in a while. We always have good matches. It will be interesting. It will be a good battle."
Maria Sharapova is game for a singles final to get a shot at reclaiming her No.1 ranking, and with the Olympic gold at stake.
"I've been really fortunate to win all the grand slams, noted Maria Sharapova, “and obviously this is my first Olympics so I'm just thrilled to be in the finals."
"Well it's incredible, not only to be part of this event and be an Olympian, but to put yourself in with an opportunity to go for gold. It's a really nice feeling," continued Maria Sharapova, while discussing her journey to the Olympics singles final.
Serena Williams has already won two Olympics golds in 2000 and 2008 doubles with her sister Venus Williams and she is again eyeing gold medal in the category with her sister on the side.
