Serena Williams won the battle of former world no. 1s in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Bank of the West Classic. Williams beat 2011 Wimbledon runner-up Maria Sharapova on Friday with a score of 6-1, 6-3.
I had a good start,” Williams said.
“You can’t go in against the fifth-ranked player with your mind everywhere. You have to be serious. It’s a great win for the hardcourt season,” she added.
The Bank of the West Classic 2011 is Williams’ third tournament of the season. Her inactivity for the past 12 months led to a massive drop in rankings. She’s currently ranked 169th.
“It certainly wasn’t my night,” Sharapova said.
“She was serving and hitting so well and I was extremely late in my reactions. I felt sluggish. It was a bad day but it’s also a reminder that I need to step up,” the Russian added.
Williams will next face Germany’s Sabine Lisicki in the semifinals.
