Serena Williams Advances to Meet Maria Sharapova in Fourth Round

She clenched her fist after a venomous ace took it to a third set.

Williams and Sharapova will play Monday at 4 a.m. ET.

“I didn’t request it because it’s a big court, but Philippe Chatrier is different from all the other courts, it’s huge on the side so it’s changing all the perception you have. She’s never forgiven me for it”. This is me, and this is my weapon and machine.

‘I think she hated me for seeing her at her lowest moment.

The Estonian 22-year-old defeated her more experienced counterpart 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) after Kvitova had threatened a comeback after breaking Kontaveit twice when she served for the match. “I managed to stay aggressive and I played smart as well”, said Sharapova.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion was questioned on comments made about her and branded them as “100% hearsay”. Louis Paul tries to juggle his role as a father and as a coach in the best way he knows how, but concedes that it can be challenging. “But the public was incredible, and I felt incredible emotions”. So for me I think it’s totally normal. I didn’t expect that. But regardless, that’s that, and…’

It has been nearly 2-1/2 years since Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova last faced off across the net but when it comes to these two great on-court foes, absence does not make the heart grow fonder.

“I feel like a warrior in it, like a warrior princess kind of, queen from Wakanda maybe”, she said smiling, following her opening round victory over Kristyna Pliskova at the French Open on Tuesday. “I was surprised about that, to be honest”, Williams said. “Long enough for you to be able to watch me, cheer me on, and be proud of me”.

“I wanted to read the book and I was really excited for it to come out and I was really happy for her”. I did a really good job of being aggressive on the return. “I took the match rather than her giving it to me”, Sharapova said.

It’s hard to understate how poorly Williams played in that first set. Especially now, I mean, after she gave birth to Olympia.

“I have definitely always had that will to win”. She allows her opponents to hang around far too often and gets very little on her second serve.

But before she could get her act together, she was broken again.

Barty’s defeat capped a mixed clay-court season for the 22-year-old.

“For me, that was a positive thing, because it wasn’t like I was playing the ultimate match”. Few can beat Pliskova when she’s serving at such a high level.

The US tennis ace, 36, had Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.by emergency caesarean last September and needed surgery for blood clots on her lungs.

‘But I think this will be another test.

“Despite the record that I have against her, I always look forward to coming out on the court and competing against the best player”.