Sharapova serene ahead of Williams showdown

Maria Sharapova is confident she can handle the nerves and make her superior fitness count when she tackles Serena Williams in Saturday’s Australian Open women’s singles final.

Sharapova has two Grand Slam titles under her belt – Wimbledon 2004 and last year’s US Open – and the Russian top seed is not fazed by her latest final.

“It’s normal to have butterflies, unless you’re a robot,” said Sharapova. “It’s the way you handle it, the way you go about it on court.”

Sharapova will become world number one after the tournament as 2006 champion Justine Henin-Hardenne has failed to defend her points from last year.

Standing in the way of her first Australian Open title is unseeded former world number one Williams, who has won it twice.

Injury-plagued Williams, who ended 2006 ranked 95 in the world, is attempting to become only the third unseeded champion in the Open era and the second woman to achieve the feat.

However, she has only played four tournaments in 2006 and Sharapova is sure to run her around the court as much as possible.

“I think the finish is going to be a lot more important than the start, to be honest,” she said.

“I’d rather have a terrible start and win the match than have a great start and lose it.”

Sharapova has met Williams four times – they each have two wins – and believes she knows the American’s game well enough to avoid any surprises in the Rod Laver Arena tomorrow.

“I’ve seen bits and pieces of some of her matches (here) but I’ve played her enough times to know her strengths and weaknesses,” she said.

“You know what shots work well for you and what shots work well for them.

“I go into my matches knowing what I can do to beat my opponent and my opponent’s weakness and what I can attack. But for me, it’s all about instinct and trying to realise it out there.”

The last time the pair met was at the 2005 Australian Open, where Williams, who went on to become champion, won 2-6 7-5 8-6, in the semi-finals.

However, Sharapova, whose two wins over Williams came in finals, has her tactics worked out for their latest confrontation.

“She has a big serve. That’s one of her biggest weapons. She has a high percentage of first serve.

“Not letting her get a look at too many second serves will be important. I’ll have to serve well against her.

“It’s also about chances. Taking the chances when you have them, especially against an experienced player like her. If you let too many get away, the more you’re going let the match slip away.”

Williams, with seven Grand Slam titles to her name, is adopting a carefree approach to the final and, like Sharapova, is not worried about nerves playing a part.

“I don’t have anything to lose and that’s always fun,” she said.

“I try to play every tournament like that. Even when I was in the top five I always tried to play like this.

“I’ve had a lot of comebacks in this tournament. I went from rock bottom to: ’Hey, there she is again’.

“I’ve got nervous before, don’t get me wrong, in a grand slam final...but right now I’m not nervous.”

Williams accepts that Sharapova has played her way into good form as the tournament has unfolded.

“Maria’s playing really well. I thought she played excellent yesterday (against Kim Clijsters).

“That’s what you have to do. Champs always pick it up in the last two rounds. She’s shown she is able to do that.”

Williams, who entered this year’s tournament as a rank outsider, acknowledges that it would be a considerable achievement to topple Sharapova.

“It would be awesome regardless to win,” she said. “Whether I was playing her or anyone else.

“I’ve always said that if I play my game, do what I can do, it’s hard for anyone to beat me.

“I’ve got to make sure I’m playing well. Sometimes I have a tendency to shank a few balls, to mis-hit, to not be on my game. If I’m on, it’s tough (for her opponent).”