SERENA WILLIAMS set up the mother of all clashes with Maria Sharapova.
Tennis’ supermum overcame world No 11 Julia Goerges 6-3 6-4 following Sharapova’s earlier 6-2 6-1 demolition of No 6 seed Karolina Pliskova, and the career-long rivals will now meet in the last 16.
Williams and Sharapova have not met since the Australian Open quarter final of 2016, after which Sharapova tested positive for banned drug meldonium.
The Russian’s 15-month suspension and Williams’ absence to have her first child delayed them renewing their on-court rivalry, which the American has dominated with 19 wins out of 21 meetings and her last defeat coming in 2004.
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Sharapova said: “Well, it’s been a while, and I think a lot has happened in our lives for the both of us in very different ways.
“To be able to put myself back in these positions and to not shy away from these moments, to come out on centre court and want the challenge of moving forward and to be able to face Serena, I think that speaks for itself.
“No matter the record against her, I still come into this tournament and want to put myself in the position to play against the best.”
Sharapova may never have a better chance to end her wretched run against her biggest rival.
Her defeat of Pliskova was her best performance of 2018 so far and she is in the form to take advantage of Williams’ lack of matches since her own comeback.
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