The highly-anticipated Maria Sharapova vs Venus Williams Australian Open 2013 third round showdown has been set after both players eliminated their second round foes in straight sets, not to mention that Sharapova has yet to lose a game at the Melbourne Park.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion and former number one, eliminated Alize Cornet of France 6-3, 6-3. Sharapova, last year’s runner-up, blasted past Japan’s Misaki Doi with a 6-0, 6-0.
“Today I don’t think I was hitting as many winners as the first round,” Williams said.
“But at the end I always felt like I was in control, so that’s always a good feeling,” she added.
Meanwhile, Sharapova said that she wasn’t really aware of the score during the match.
“I was just really trying to be focused,” Sharapova said.
“I didn’t know too much about my opponent; just knew she was a few inches shorter than I was.
“But it’s always tough, especially when you’re up a set and a couple of breaks to keep that momentum. You know, I really forced myself to concentrate and just get the job done today,” she added.
Sharapova became the first female player to have produced consecutive double bagels at a Grand Slam event since Wendy Turnbull did it in Australian in 1985.
For those anticipating this third round match-up between former world number one players, one thing is for sure, there won’t be a double bagel on this.
