Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams: The battle is yet to begin – Tennis Special
Do you know what the former world number one, Andy Roddick, said about his so-called rivalry with the reigning top ranked superstar, Roger Federer? He said, “I'm going to have to start winning some of the matches to call it a rivalry.”
The same can be said about the tension between the Belarusian world number one, Victoria Azarenka, and the Russian blonde, Maria Sharapova. Both of them have played five matches against one another in 2012 and the 25-year-old Russian has been successful on
just one occurrence.
The latest news in the centre is that Azarenka has demolished Sharapova in the grand finale of the China Open at Beijing with the scores of 6-3, 6-1 and commented afterwards, “I was doing the right things to not let Maria play
her game that she likes, to always be in control. For the most part I was trying to keep up with her rhythm and, when I had a chance, to step it up.” The second ranked Russian might think it a bit unfair but she has been owned at hard courts by the 23-year-old
Belarusian.
Azarenka cleared the air by simply denying the obvious. She said, “There's no rivalry!" It might be a case that the Belarusian doesn’t think about the Russian blonde as much of a competition. Who knows? However, one thing is for
sure that her status as the world number one is questionable especially witnessing some mind-startling triumphs by the American former world number one, Serena Williams, who is ranked third in the world.
Williams has been absolutely invincible in the current season; winning Wimbledon Championships, title at Stanford, the gold medal at Olympics and the US Open Championships. Moreover, Azarenka has never been able to beat the 30-year-old
American in this season so there is no point to argue that despite the Belarusian being ranked top in the world according to the Women Tennis Association calculations, the obvious best player is Williams.
Sharapova and Williams also had a go against one another in the final of the London Olympics. So, the Top-3 is building up a hostile atmosphere and there is just one twist in the tale that will enhance the anger in all three of
the contenders. The only thing that is needed at the moment is two back-to-back triumphs for Sharapova on Azarenka and Williams coupled with two for the Belarusian on the American ace. It will just twist the odds and rekindle the flavour of battleship amongst
the Top-3.
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