Serena apologises to Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, left, has criticised Serena Williams for comments made about a controversial rape case in Ohio. Source: AP

UPDATE: SERENA Williams has privately apologised to arch-rival Maria Sharapova for "inadvertently" dragging the Russian into a Wimbledon slanging match between two of the sport's biggest stars.

Williams and Sharapova have traded personal barbs about their off-court partners in a controversy ignited by a Rolling Stones magazine interview.

Aware of the dangers of distraction, Williams wants a truce.
 

"I made it a point to reach out to Maria, as well, because she was inadvertently brought into the situation by assumptions made by the (Rolling Stones) reporter," Williams said.
 

"I personally talked to Maria at the player party (on Thursday), incidentally.
 

"I said, Look, I want to personally apologise to you if you are offended by being brought into my situation. I want to take this moment to just pour myself, be open, say I'm very sorry for this whole situation'."
 

The apology does not appear to have cut much ice with Sharapova, who on Saturday unleashed a withering attack on Williams, castigating the world No 1 for her reported comments about the Russian's relationship with Grigor Dimitrov.
 

Responding to Williams's remarks in Rolling Stone about an unnamed top-five player who "begins every interview with 'I'm so happy. I'm so lucky' – it's so boring", Sharapova made it clear she was the target of the American's barb.
 

Williams also said of the mystery player: "She's still not going to be invited to the cool parties. And, hey, if she wants to be with the guy with a black heart, go for it."
 

Williams is believed to have been alluding to Dimitrov, whom she once dated.
 

Completing a tangled web, Williams' current boyfriend Patrick Mouratoglou used to coach Dimitrov.
 

"If she (Williams) wants to talk about something personal, maybe she should talk about her relationship and her boyfriend that was married and is getting a divorce and has kids.," Sharapova said.
 

"Talk about other things, but not draw attention to other things. She has so much in her life, many positives, and I think that's what it should be about.
 

"Obviously I have a tremendous amount of respect for Serena and what she's achieved on the court.
 

"You can never take anything away from that.
 

"At the end of the day, we have a tremendous amount of respect for what we do on the court.  I just think she should be talking about her accomplishments, her achievements, rather than everything else that's just getting attention and controversy."
 

Williams two weeks ago dethroned Sharapova at the French Open in straight sets and the Russian could barely look at her rival as Williams jubilated with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.
 

The increasingly poisonous relationship between two of the most successful athletes in international sport - Sharapova, Williams and Li Na are the only women on the Forbes top 100 athlete rich list - creates a curious backdrop to Wimbledon.
 

Williams returns in search of a sixth All England Club crown and 17th major overall.
 

Riding an unbeaten streak of 31 matches, Williams is in career-best form.
 

The American is only two majors shy of equalling Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova's haul of 18 and within six of Steffi Graf's 22.
 

Only Australian Margaret Court's tally of 24 would appear out of reach.
 

"I'm really relaxed. I really enjoy every moment that I'm out there," Williams said.
 

"I always said that I felt like I have never played my best tennis.
 

"I feel like I can always do better and play better and I have always wanted to reach that level. Maybe I'm just trying to get there."
 

"I really believe age is a number at this point, because I have never felt so fit. I feel great. I look great."
 

Williams was left in shock after last season's first round loss to Virginie Razzano in Paris.
 

Since then, Williams has won 74 of 77 matches, claiming victory at Wimbledon, the Olympic Games and the US Open.
 

Extending the trend, Williams has a 43-2 record this season with titles in Brisbane, Miami, Charleston, Madrid, Rome and Paris.
 

Queensland's Sam Stosur is Australia's only women's singles entrant and will start her singles campaign tomorrow against Slovakian lucky loser Anna Schmiedlova.

 

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