Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova
Tennis great Martina Navratilova (C) stands with Serena Williams (L) of the U.S. as she holds the winner's trophy next to Maria Sharapova of Russia after winning their women's singles final match at the Australian Open 2015 tennis tournament in Melbourne January 31, 2015. REUTERS/Issei Kato REUTERS/Issei Kato

For the 20th time in their careers, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will meet on the court for a place in the semifinals of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. It is the third time that Williams and Sharapova will play on the grass courts of the All England Club.

Williams, who will be playing her 10th Wimbledon semifinals, is coming off from her win over former World No. 1 Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. Down in the first set, Williams recovered to win the next two sets and advance in the last four 3-6 6-2 6-3. It was the second time in the tournament that Williams had played three sets following her clash with local favourite Heather Watson in the third round.

The American holds a dominant lead in her head-to-head series with Sharapova, who will be appearing in her fifth Wimbledon semifinals. Williams had not lost against the Russian since the season-ending women’s tour championships in Los Angeles in 2004. It was the very same year when she was upset by the then 17-year-old Sharapova in the finals of the Wimbledon Championships.

Williams, who fired a total of 45 aces in all her completed Wimbledon matches compared to Sharapova’s 19, is bidding to win her sixth title at the All England Club and her 21st grand slam trophy. Her thoughts on playing Sharapova, Williams said via WTATennis.com that she doesn’t feel any pressure going into the match with her rival. She added that she is just trying to relish the moment.

“I love playing Maria,” Williams said. “I think she brings out the best in me and I think I bring out the best in her.”

Sharapova is coming off from her victory 6-3, 6-7(3) 6-2 over American CoCo Vanderweghe on Tuesday. It was the first time that Sharapova had played three sets in the tournament. She was a set ahead when Vanderweghe fought back to claim the second set on a tiebreak. The Russian dominated the final set to win the match that lasted two hours and 46 minutes.

The Russian has not won a set against Williams since the 2013 Miami Open. Thursday’s semifinal showdown between two of the greatest female tennis players will be a blockbuster event as Sharapova attempts to put an end to Williams’ 16-match winning streak. The last time that Williams and Sharapova played toe-to-toe was in the finale of the 2015 Australian Open in Melbourne.

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