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The Tennis Podcast: Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams in 2004 - the making of an unrivalry

Defending champion Serena Williams of the US and winner Maria Sharapova of Russia (L) hold their trophies following the ladies' singles final on Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, Saturday 03 July 2004 - The Tennis Podcast: Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams in 2004 - the making of an unrivalry - REX
Defending champion Serena Williams of the US and winner Maria Sharapova of Russia (L) hold their trophies following the ladies' singles final on Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, Saturday 03 July 2004 - The Tennis Podcast: Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams in 2004 - the making of an unrivalry - REX

In 2004, 17-year-old Maria Sharapova thrashed Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 in the Wimbledon final and the world hailed a new rivalry.

Sharapova would beat Williams once more, later that year, and never again, with Williams concluding their head-to-head 16 years later leading 20-2.

The Tennis Podcast re-lives that 2004 final in the latest show, and tries to get to the bottom of why the tables turned so dramatically thereafter.

Michael Joyce, who coached Sharapova for seven years and knew her from before the 2004 Wimbledon until many years after, describes the player and the woman he got to know, what made her tick, and why he felt she was unable to get the better of Williams in the years that followed.

The 11th edition of Wimbledon Re-Lived will cover the 2005 final between Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport, which remains one of the best ever, while remembering the role Venus played in equal prize money at The Championships.

Click here to listen to The Tennis Podcast. 

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments