Maria Sharapova was her usual steely self in seeing off Belinda Bencic in the Australian Open's fourth round. The 28-year-old, career-Slam-winning star fired 21 aces in dispatching the 18-year-old upstart, 7-5, 7-5.

Afterward, Sharapova spoke with an on-court interviewer about the match and her foe. She interestingly offered this, per ESPN's Patrick McEnroe:

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That was the No. 5 seed verbally marking the territory she owns alongside champions such as Serena Williams. Then Bencic, the No. 12 seed Down Under, shot back in her post-match press conference.

Asked by reporter Nick McCarvel what surprised her about Sharapova in their first-ever match, Bencic replied, "That her scream is not so loud."

She quickly smiled and shrugged off the comment as a harmless quip.

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Bencic got her lick in late, as Sharapova had already seized the day. Even so, this Swiss miss is certainly starting to resemble mentor Martina Hingis in more ways than one.

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