Djokovic, Federer, Nadal…no one held grudge more than Serena Williams”: American’s ex-coach revisits epic Olympics victory over Maria Sharapova. Serena Williams’ former coach Rennae Stubbs has revisited the legendary American’s dominant performance against fierce rival Maria Sharapova in the women’s singles gold medal match at the 2012 London Olympics. Stubbs said that was the best match she saw Williams play in her career. The 53-year-old also opined that Williams was one-of-a-kind when holding grudges for revenge’s sake.
Williams and Sharapova’s maiden WTA Tour-level meeting came in the fourth round of the 2004 Miami Open. The former emerged victorious. However, the Russian player stunned the American twice later that year. The first was in the 2004 Wimbledon final, where Sharapova won her first-ever Grand Slam title with a 6-1, 6-4 win. In the final of the year-end WTA Tour Championships (now the WTA Finals), Sharapova registered another victory over Williams.
However, that’s as good as it got for the Russian player against the American. All of the next 19 meetings ended in Williams’ favor, with the American’s 6-0, 6-1 win over the Russian in the 2012 London Olympics’ women’s singles gold medal match being one of them.
Recently, Rennae Stubbs, who coached Serena Williams for the 2022 US Open, opined on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast that she has never seen the American play as well as she did in her 2012 Olympics win over Maria Sharapova. At the time, Stubbs herself was commentating on the match, which took place on the iconic Centre Court of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
“Actually the greatest match I ever saw Serena Williams play, and I saw her play a lot of great tennis, was the finals of the Olympics in London against Sharapova. I was doing the commentary with Mary Carillo, and Maria had a great serve out wide. I remember, it was like a big serve, like 115 (mph) or something, and Serena literally turned her shoulders and just crushed a forehand down the line at about 120 (mph), going back down the line,” Stubbs recalled [at 07:57].
The Australian former doubles No. 1 remembered how she turned to her co-commentator Mary Carillo, another former tennis player, and couldn’t find any words after seeing Williams’ devastating return.
“And where we sit in the booth at Wimbledon’s right on court level, and I just looked at Mary Carillo and I just couldn’t. Sometimes there were just no words. I’ve never seen anyone play better than that match. It was like the loss that she did have against Maria years ago on that court, it entered her body and she said, ‘Not today,'” Stubbs added.
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Later, Stubbs’ co-host Caitlin Thompson suggested that Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic had this common quality with Williams.
“I wonder, are there any other players like that? Novak with maybe Rafa or Federer towards the end,” Thompson said [at 09:38].
Stubbs said no one held on to grudges to outperform a rival quite like Serena Williams. She opined that Djokovic “may” have a similar approach in the men’s game, but it’s not anywhere the extent to which Williams had it.
“I think on the men’s side I would say that Novak maybe, but I think there was no one who held a grudge for revenge more than Serena Williams, which is one of the reasons why she was so great, because she was never into complacency. It was always about, it’s never going to happen again,” Stubbs said.
In a 2017 CNN interview, Sharapova opined that her 2004 Wimbledon final win over Williams affected the American player so deeply that she never wanted to lose to the Russian again.
Maria Sharapova on how her Wimbledon 2004 win may have affected Serena Williams – “It stirred something up”
Maria Sharapova gave an exclusive interview to CNN in 2017, during which she suggested that her win over Serena Williams in the final of the 2004 Wimbledon Championships impacted the American profoundly. According to the Russian player, this ultimately caused their rivalry to be overwhelmingly one-sided:
“Obviously it was a disappointing loss to her because she was expected to win. I’m sure she expected to win that match, another Wimbledon final. So I think that disappointment really, it stirred something up. She didn’t want to lose to me again. Well, I say she’s owned me. Which she has.”
Sharapova and Williams’ last encounter came in the first round of the 2019 US Open, which the American player comprehensively won 6-1, 6-1. The Russian retired from tennis in 2020, while Williams’ career ended at the 2022 US Open.”Serena Williams’ Epic 2012 Olympics Victory: A Grudge Match for the Ages, According to Her Former Coach”
In a recent podcast, Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach, reflected on the American tennis icon’s historic performance against Maria Sharapova during the women’s singles gold medal match at the 2012 London Olympics. Stubbs described it as the best match she has ever seen Williams play, highlighting the intensity and skill on display.
Williams’ rivalry with Sharapova dates back to their first meeting at the 2004 Miami Open, where Williams triumphed. However, Sharapova famously defeated Williams twice that same year, including in the Wimbledon final. Despite this early success, Williams dominated the rivalry thereafter, winning 19 consecutive matches, culminating in a stunning 6-0, 6-1 victory in London.
During the podcast, Stubbs recalled the exhilarating moment when Williams returned one of Sharapova’s powerful serves, noting, “It was like a big serve, and Serena literally turned her shoulders and just crushed a forehand down the line.” Her commentary position allowed her to fully appreciate the mastery on display, leading her to declare it the pinnacle of Williams’ career.
Stubbs also emphasized Williams’ unique ability to hold grudges and use them as motivation. While she acknowledged that players like Novak Djokovic might share a similar mindset, she argued that no one matched Williams’ intensity and drive for revenge. This psychological edge, according to Stubbs, was a key factor in Williams’ greatness, ensuring she would never settle for past defeats.
Reflecting on Sharapova’s impact, Stubbs referenced a 2017 interview where Sharapova suggested that her 2004 Wimbledon win deeply affected Williams, igniting a relentless desire to reclaim dominance in their rivalry. Their last encounter at the 2019 US Open further underscored Williams’ superiority, as she won decisively.
As Williams’ career continues to resonate, Stubbs’ insights into her historic rivalry with Sharapova reveal the depth of competitive spirit that defined her journey.
