IMG client Maria Sharapova wins Wimbledon
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Contact: David Tratner (Miami)
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07/19/04 - LONDON - The pristine courts of Wimbledon showcased an impressive display of shotmaking and heart in the championship match between No.1 seed Serena Williams and No.13 seed Maria Sharapova. It was Russia's Maria Sharapova who won the Wimbledon crown, defeating Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4. In her first Grand Slam final, Sharapova walked away with her fourth singles title and first Grand Slam singles title. She was making only her second appearance at the Wimbledon Championships, having reached the fourth round in her debut last year.
"It's amazing, really," Sharapova said after winning her dream title. "I'm absolutely speechless. I never, never in my life expected this to happen so fast. And it's always been my dream to come here and to win. But it was never in my mind that I would do it this year."
Sharapova was extraordinarily impressive in her game as she consistently ripped winners cross-court and down the line against the six-time Grand Slam champion. She kept Williams on the defensive, recording 17 winners and winning 64% of the points taken on her first serve.
The first set began with each player holding one game apiece, until Sharapova darted out to a 5-1 lead, outhitting Williams and consistently dictating the points. Sharapova closed out the first set on her fourth set point, leaving Serena with her first 6-1 set loss at Wimbledon.
After tied at 2-2 in the first set, Serena jumped to a 4-2 lead but was unable to capitalize on the break. Sharapova broke serve to lead 5-4 and never looked back, holding three championship points and transforming herself into a true champion on the second such point. Sharapova reeled off piercing serves and striking angles to take the match, the final and the Grand Slam title.
"I was trying to look at the trophy and I was trying to see, I mean, it's in my hands, I don't understand, but it's actually in my hands. When I came on the court and saw the board with my name on it, 2004 Wimbledon Champion, that was just it for me."
Sharapova interrupted Williams' 20 match-win streak at Wimbledon and her quest for a third consecutive Wimbledon title. Prior to this match, Williams had lost only one Grand Slam final, the 2001 US Open to her sister Venus. Williams is now 6-2 in Grand Slam finals and seems even more motivated to regain the form that took her to No.1 in 2002.
Williams stated, "I put a lot of stress on myself. I think I put too much stress on myself going into it. I really wanted to win more than anything. I was so focused the night before, the day before, I mean, a week before. I told myself, 'I have got to do this. If I don't do this, there's no ifs, ands or buts about it. I've got to do it' so maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself."
She followed up the statement saying, "I'm definitely going to triple my efforts, do everything I can to play better next time."
Williams was making her first Grand Slam final appearance since winning the Wimbledon trophy last year. She had been out for eight months due to knee surgery and is working on getting back to her previous form. On questioned whether she feels a sense of success reaching the final after her layoff, she replied, "I'll sit here and say that, yeah, it is a solid achievement for me because it's been a while. I don't know how many people can come back and do so well. But for me it's not good enough."
Sharapova becomes the third youngest Wimbledon champion in the history of tennis, and the second youngest in the Open Era. Martina Hingis holds the record for the youngest champion in the Open Era, winning Wimbledon in 1997 at 16 years and 9 months. Sharapova is also the first Russian to win Wimbledon and the second to earn a Grand Slam title, following up on Anastasia Myskina's win at Roland Garros just a few weeks ago.
Sharapova is expected to break into the Top 10 on Monday, July 5 when the rankings are released. She now has her sights set on becoming the No.1 player in the world. "I thought Wimbledon was just my dream to win, and now, of course, my goal is to be No. 1 in the world."
During the ceremony Sharapova said to Williams, "Thank you for giving me a tough match but I'm sorry I had to win today and take the trophy away from you for one year."
Courtesy of the WTA Tour
