Serena beats Sharapova

Serena Williams reacts during her victory against top-seeded Maria Sharapova at the Sony Ericsson Open at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park on March 27, 2007.Serena Williams reacts during her victory against top-seeded Maria Sharapova at the Sony Ericsson Open at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park on March 27, 2007.* What is it about Serena?It took 58 minutes Tuesday afternoon for Serena Williams to assure Maria Sharapova -- and everyone else on the women's tour -- that her stirring Australian Open victory over the former top-ranked Russian was no fluke.In fact, Williams beat Sharapova even more thoroughly this time. She made the typically ferocious Russian look ordinary and frustrated during a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne.The last time they played, two months ago in the Australian Open final, Williams beat Sharapova 6-1, 6-2. In other words, over the two tournaments, Williams leads 24 games to five.When the torturous match was finally over for Sharapova, who double-faulted eight times, she practically sprinted off the court. She already was well into the tunnel when the stadium announcer asked the audience to give her a hand.Williams, meanwhile, was prancing around with a giant smile and her index finger raised to the sky. On paper, she is the world's 18th-ranked player, but in her mind, she is still No. 1, as she was in 2002-03. She said coming into the match that when she's playing her best, the only people who can beat her are the men on the ATP tour.It's hard to argue after watching her 120-mph serves, her perfectly struck shots into the corners, and her tenacity. The reason her ranking dropped is that she played only four tournaments last year because of injuries. Television commentator Mary Carillo said if Williams played on a regular basis, ``she'd be Roger Federer.''''I think a lot of people might have thought [the Australian Open] was a one-off,'' Williams said. ``I don't know anyone who's won eight Grand Slams and had so many doubters in their lives. I guess just me. It's OK.''Asked if she expected Tuesday's match to be so easy, Williams grinned and said: ``Haven't you learned that I expect the best of myself? I expect nothing less.''Sharapova was gracious in defeat, saying women's tennis is ''definitely'' better when Williams plays, and that Williams has ``the most consistent serve at a big pace.''Williams took control of the match early, and Sharapova never looked comfortable. Williams won 22 of the final 28 points, much to the delight of the crowd.''Once she gets up in the set or in the match, she seems to steamroll,'' Sharapova said. ``I think I pushed a little bit too much. She served the corners really well, and also on the second serve didn't give me a lot of balls to work with. I didn't feel I had a chance to really step in and hit my shots. She was controlling most of the points.''One person who was not surprised by the manner in which Williams won was Andy Roddick. He said he predicted to a sportswriter this winter that Williams would dominate in 2007.''I said she was going to kill everyone this year,'' Roddick said. ``I talked to her in the offseason and she seemed to be pretty fed up with losing to people she didn't feel like she should be losing to, and she had that little bit of an edge in her voice. When she starts talking like that, you probably should take her seriously.''And Serena's sister, Venus, too, Roddick said.''Everybody kind of sleeps on them, and Venus comes out and wins Wimbledon in '05 and nobody takes Serena seriously and she wins the Australian Open in '05,'' he said. ``Everyone starts sleeping on her again last year, saying she's done and finished, and I think she's into proving all you guys wrong.''Williams' next opponent is No. 8 Nicole Vaidisova.''Here I go again,'' Williams said. ``I have to play another top-10 player who's playing great tennis. This was a win, but this wasn't the final. I have to be ready for the next round.''