Serena and Sharapova exchange shots

Published: 2013 June 25 06:57:42 (5468 Views)

Two of Wimbledon's biggest tennis stars have been exchanging hard-hitting shots — about each other's private lives.

The head-to-head between Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams has made even the high drama of Centre Court seem tame.

At the heart of it are rumours that Russian Sharapova's new tennis star boyfriend — handsome Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, 22 — also dated Williams.

Meanwhile American Williams is said to be romancing her married French coach Patrick Mouratoglou, 43 — who she was introduced to by Dimitrov.

Mouratoglou admitted: "I met Serena because she was friends with Grigor and I was coaching him, so I would see her at the tournaments. I thank him, really, every day."

Without naming Sharapova, 26, — but leaving it clear who she was talking about — Serena told an interviewer about a top-five player who is now in love.

She said: "She begins every interview with, 'I'm so happy. I'm so lucky'. It's so boring.

"She's still not going to be invited to the cool parties. And, hey, if she wants to be with the guy with a black heart, go for it."

Russian ace Sharapova — famed for her on-court grunts and shrieks — was not going to take that in silence.

Taking careful aim she hit back: "If she wants to talk about something personal, maybe she should talk about her relationship and her boyfriend that was married and is getting a divorce and has kids."

Sharapova, who last beat Serena in the 2004 Wimbledon final, followed up with a back-handed compliment. "She has so much in her life — many positives", she said before adding: "And I think that's what it should be about."

Sharapova also hit out at Williams over comments about a rape victim. Williams had been talking to a reporter when the case came on TV, telling of two high school football players in Steubenville, Ohio, who raped a drunk 16-year-old girl while other students watched and texted details.

Williams said: "I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you — don't take drinks from other people." She later apologised.

But Sharapova sniped: "I just think she should be talking about her accomplishments, her achievements, rather than everything else that's just getting attention and controversy."

On Sunday Williams pulled herself back into the game by saying sorry to Sharapova for her original comments.

She revealed: "I personally talked to Maria at the player party. I said, 'Look, I want to personally apologise to you if you are offended by being brought into my situation.'

"I want to take this moment to just pour myself, be open, say I'm very sorry for this whole situation."

She went on: "I definitely like to keep my personal life personal."

Williams also looked set to take Sharapova's point about concentrating on her sport.

She explained: "I know she also said that I should definitely focus on the tennis here, and I feel like that is another thing I can definitely take her advice on."

After a first round 7-6 6-3 win against Kristina Mladenovic, Sharapova confirmed she had received an apology.

And she insisted she wanted to draw a line under the affair, saying: "I've said everything that I wanted to say about the issue. I'd really like to move on."

Whatever the intentions, the pair could still have a showdown at the Wimbledon championships — but only in the final.

- Sun

Tags: tennis, Serena, Sharapova,

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