A 14-match losing streak to Serena Williams provides enough negativity for Maria Sharapova. After her 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) loss to Serena in the semifinals of the Brisbane International, Sharapova worked hard to find a silver lining.
So she told reporters after the match that she considers herself fortunate enough to advance far enough in tournaments to get beat time after time by Serena.
"I just found 14 ways how not to win," Sharapova told reporters of her lack of success against Williams, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. ''That's the only way you can look at it.
"I could be in a worse position and never face her, which means I would be losing much earlier in tournaments than I want to be. I consider myself very lucky to be able to play against her and give myself another chance to try and beat her."
The Brisbane International was Sharapova's first match since recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for five months.
She admitted that she needs to raise her game to challenge Serena but again looked at Brisbane as a building block.
"If I want to have a chance to beat Serena I have to get myself in the match and I have to raise my level - this is what champions do," Sharapova said. "(But) it was a big step for me to be here. I worked hard."
Williams and Sharapova have been engaged in verbal sparring that began last May. Both took their rivalry to a personal level by talking about each other's boyfriend.
So while Sharapova had to feel some extra frustrating tied to the off-the-court feud in the loss, she said her frustration in not being able to play during the last half of 2013 motivated her.
"It's not as if I was in retirement (the past five months)," Sharapova said. "It was tough not seeing my name in the draws and tough seeing everybody playing tournaments and you're just kind of going about trying to find a way to heal an injury and bit unsure when that will happen.
''(There were) a lot of question marks."
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