Tennis: Rivals Williams and Sharapova to play it cool at WTA 2014

She spoke about what it would mean to end the year at the summit and about how her four titles this year still has her perched one rung below.

Maria Sharapova also rummaged through her memory bank to talk about her last - and only - win at the season-ending Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour Championships, a decade ago in 2004.

But not once did she mention that name.

Not of the person she bested all those years ago, or the player who is keeping her off the top of the pile. Serena Williams.

That night 10 years ago in Los Angeles was, in fact, the last time Sharapova managed to pull one over Williams.

She lost in the next 15 meetings over a 10-year period, on every type of surface the game is played on: dusty red ones, lush green ones, even on hard courts.

Just maybe, that run will end here, as the top eight women in the world prepare for battle at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, which kicks off at the Singapore Indoor Stadium today.

The Russian may not have mentioned Williams when she met the media yesterday, but the American's considerable shadow loomed large, nevertheless.

"I always feel that the ranking is... not just based on your results, but based on other people's results and accomplishments," said Sharapova.

There was Williams in the background.

"I think my year has been the way that it is. I think the ranking is the way that it is and shows that I'm in the No. 2 position," said Sharapova at WTA's all access media day at Marina Bay Sands' ArtScience Museum yesterday.

Williams again. In the face of the dominant 33-year-old American who some believe is the best woman to pick up a racket, Sharapova has won five Grand Slam crowns, even held the No. 1 spot, but has never truly challenged.

But, after an imperious display in her last tournament in China, many feel Sharapova is the favourite to win here in Singapore, even with Williams in the field.

"Is it an incredible accomplishment? Absolutely. It would be amazing to achieve that (the world No. 1 ranking). I haven't done that in my career, finishing (the) year as No. 1, but I have been in that spot before and been No. 2 before and gotten to No. 1," said Sharapova.

Williams has spent a total of 210 weeks at the pinnacle of women's tennis, fourth on the all-time list topped by Steffi Graf (377), and she loves the air up there.

"It's obviously super important for me. I love being No. 1, I love being the best," Williams said, at the same event.

And she means it.

She pulled out of the China Open earlier this month after injuring her left knee. Many wondered if she would be fit in time to defend her WTA Finals title, and her No. 1 spot.

But she came, and gracefully walked into the museum yesterday in wedge-sneakers, no less, in case there were still doubts about her knee.

She was cagey about it, though, saying the knee was getting better and better every day.

As for the battle for No. 1, she also avoided mentioning Sharapova, when she said: "I think it definitely adds an extra element of excitement.

"At the end of the day, I don't let that stress me out, I'm just happy to be here.

"I really didn't think I was going to be able to come (because of the injury)... (And) with that, I don't feel a great amount of pressure."

Williams came back from a career-threatening pulmonary embolism to win five more Grand Slams and take her total to 18.

When asked what the difference between a champion and a talented player was, she paused for a second.

Then, she said: "Usually, the most talented players aren't the best players. I think being a champion is the one who works the hardest and maybe has to work harder than everyone else because they're not as good and things don't come as easy for them."

Singapore is poised for the world's best to do battle.

What's on today

WTA Future Stars (starts 12pm)

U-14 and U-16 finals. Retired Chinese star Li Na to present trophies.

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WTA Legends Event (not before 7pm)

Marion Bartoli (Fra)/Martina Navratilova (US) v Tracy Austin (US)/Iva Majoli (Cro)

Opening Ceremony

WTA Finals (singles event)

Red Group:

(1) Serena Williams (US) v (7) Ana Ivanovic (Serb)

(4) Simona Halep (Rom) v (5) Eugenie Bouchard (Can)

All matches at Singapore Indoor Stadium

There were admiring gasps at the Marina Bay Sands' ArtScience Museum yesterday when Serena Williams walked into her press conference ahead of today's start of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

Decked in a tight white tank-top over a mini-skirt and wedge-sneakers, 33-year-old Williams was all feminine curves.

But she did not mince her words in response to Shamil Tarpishchev's comments on a chat show last Friday, describing her, and her sister Venus, as the "Williams brothers".

Calling the Russian Tennis Federation president's statement "extremely sexist, as well as racist...and bullying", Williams hailed the swift action taken by the Women's Tennis Association, who fined Tarpishchev US$25,000 ($32,000) and banned him from the Tour for a year.

She said: "I think the WTA did a great job of taking initiative and taking immediate action to his comments.

"I've done the best that I can do, and that's all I can say. So I just wasn't very happy with his comments. I think a lot of people weren't happy as well."

"In this day of age, 2014 for someone with his power, it's really unacceptable to make such bullying remarks," added the world No. 1.

One rung below Williams in the tennis rankings is Russian Maria Sharapova, who was equally critical of her countryman.

"I think they (his comments) were very disrespectful and uncalled for, and I'm glad that many people have stood up, including the WTA," said the 27-year-old Sharapova.

"It was very inappropriate, especially in his position and all the responsibilities that he has not just in sport, but being part of the (International) Olympic Committee (IOC)."

shamiro@sph.com.sg

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This article was first published on Oct 20, 2014.
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