MOSCOW, June 7 (R-Sport) – Russia’s Maria Sharapova said Friday that she had to change her style of play in order to break her nine-year losing streak against No. 1 Serena Williams in the French Open final.
On Saturday, the players will encounter each other for the 16th time. Sharapova's only victories against the American are two wins from 2004.
“I'd be lying if I said it doesn't bother me,” the 26-year-old Sharapova was quoted as saying by the tournament website. “I would love to change that around. Obviously, whatever I did in the past hasn't worked, so I'll have to try to do something different."
"I'm proud of the way that I came through this tournament. I have given myself a chance to face the favorite.”
Williams is on a personal record win streak of 30 games and has dropped just three sets on clay this season.
“Despite that record and despite me being unsuccessful against her, I believe that I'm happy to be setting up chances to be going out and facing her,” Sharapova said. “Her success has been incredible. But going into a French Open final, that doesn't matter. It all starts from zero. You've got to play until the last point and believe in yourself.”
The French Open the least successful Grand Slam tournament for Williams, who won it for the only time in 2002. Until last year, it was Sharapova's bogey Grand Slam too, until the Russian beat Sara Errani in last year's final.
