In the WTA rankings, Maria Sharapova is a close No 2 behind Serena Williams, separated by 1,566 points.
The Russian is a former No 1 and also a five-time grand slam champion, winning the first of her majors at the age of 17 in 2004 when she beat, or rather annihilated, Serena 6-1, 6-4 in the Wimbledon final.
Sharapova defeated Serena again in the final of the 2004 year-ending WTA championships in Los Angeles, but has suffered 16 defeats in succession since.
The losses include two Australian Open finals, a French Open final and a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing in the 2012 London Olympics final.
Only three of those 16 duels have gone to three sets, so the rankings are clearly not the best measure of Williams’s dominance.
Perhaps her winning percentage in grand slam finals gives a clearer picture.
Williams has lost only four of her 23 finals – twice to her sister, Venus (2001 US Open and 2008 Wimbledon), and once each to Sharapova and Samantha Stosur (2011 US Open).
Steffi Graf, who has won more majors than any woman in the Open era, was 22-9 in grand slam finals.
Martina Navratilova was 18-14 and Chris Evert 18-16.
Only Margaret Court (24-5), who won 13 of her 24 major titles prior to 1968, before the professional era, has done better than Serena in grand slam finals.
Six of Serena’s 19 grand slam crowns have come after she turned 30, and now she is only three away from equalling Graf’s record.
Can Sharapova, or any of the other young WTA stars, stop the American from getting there?
Probably not.
It is a cliche, but no one can beat Serena at a grand slam except Serena herself.
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