Serena has nothing to lose against Maria

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  • Confident: Serena.

    The only thing scarier than an in-form Serena Williams is an in-form Serena Williams feeling like she’s got nothing to lose.

    The tennis world is buzzing with the possibility of Williams winning a fourth major in a row but the world No 1 insists she’s got nothing to prove.

    After two first-week losses at SW19 in her last two appearances here, Williams is back in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time since 2012. She has a 7-1 record in last four matches here and would be targeting a sixth Wimbledon crown should she beat Maria Sharapova today and advance to the final.

    “I have nothing to lose. If I win, it’s great. If I lose, I did pretty well. It’s just totally different for me. I don’t have anything to prove. I won all the grand slams, multiple times. I’m here just to enjoy it. I think it’s actually making me play better, which is crazy,” said the 33-year-old Williams, who owns 20 grand slam singles titles.

    Williams will be facing Sharapova for a 20th time in their careers and third time at the Championships. She owns a soul-crushing 17-2 record against Sharapova, who hasn’t beaten Williams in 11 years.

    It’s no surprise Williams enjoys facing the Russian – why wouldn’t you love playing someone who is renowned for her mental strength and fighting ability but who also does not know how to beat you?

    “I love playing Maria,” said Williams. “I think she brings out the best in me. I think I bring out the best in her. I thought we had a wonderful final in Australia (last January). It was very entertaining. She played really well.

    “For me, I don’t feel like I have any pressure going into this match. We both actually lost early last year. We both are kind of enjoying this moment and one of us will be in the final.”

    Sharapova has not won Wimbledon since stunning Williams in the 2004 final when she was just 17 years old.

    The five-time grand slam champion is back in the semis here for the first time since 2011 and will be looking to end a 16-match losing streak against Williams.

    “I haven’t seen my name on the (Wimbledon) trophy in a while because I haven’t held the trophy in many years. I’ve seen it on the board,” Sharapova said laughing. “I know it’s there, but I would love to check it out again to make sure it’s still there. That would be nice.

    “I haven’t played Serena here in 11 years. That would be an incredible moment for me to step out on Centre Court against her again.

    “I think it’s always a new match. I haven’t had great success against her. I would love to change that around. That’s how I look at it.”

    She can’t bank on any advice from Williams’ latest victim, Victoria Azarenka, who fell in three sets to the top seed on Tuesday.

    “If I had one (tip for Sharapova), I would have used it today, trust me,” said Azarenka after the quarter-finals.

    Heather Watson, who came within two points of beating Williams in the third round, tips Williams for another win over Sharapova but says the only way the No 4 seed can pull off the upset is to ditch her typical power game and rely more on variety.

    “Maria must know that in order to defeat her foe a new game plan is required. She is all about hitting it super-hard from the base- line, and that works impressively well against so many players,” said Watson in her column for The Telegraph.

    “Now she faces Serena, an opponent who isn’t easily bullied. Maria needs to be subtle and play a variety of shots to test her.” 

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