By Kamakshi Tandon

Maria Sharapova (RUS)[1] vs. Serena Williams (USA) Rod Laver Arena 1:30 pm

It may not be a match-up of the top seeds, but there’s little question it’s a match-up of the two highest-profile players in the women’s game. Serve against serve, intensity against intensity, Sharapova’s mental tenaciousness versus Williams’ big-point mentality – this is a tough one to call.

Both players have physical question marks against them. Sharapova’s first and last matches have been tough ones, and she has appeared to struggle under the sun in this event despite having a training base in hot and humid Florida. As she acknowledges, Williams is much physically stronger, and also remains faster.

On Williams’ side, she played just a handful of matches coming in and looked to be lacking a little muscle tone. Though her reserves have lasted this far, each match is accompanied by the possibility that it will be the one where they run out. Lack of match toughness can also lead to patches of rough play that Sharapova will be keen to exploit.

Adding a little extra zing is the match history between these two players. Their last meeting was an epic battle right here in Melbourne two years ago, won by Williams after she fought off three match points. The Wimbledon title that catapulted Sharapova to fame came with a surprisingly easy straight-sets win over Williams in 2004. Later that year, the two also had a ferocious battle in the year-end championships, eventually won by Sharapova in a match where Williams appeared to be struggling with injury towards the end. Their head-to-head stands even at 2-2, the remaining meeting coming in Miami in 2004.

One thing is certain: both are again prepared to battle hard for this title.

Prediction: A noisy soundtrack.