Once again Thursday, Maria Sharapova was able to draw upon her vast experience in a familiar situation.
She could face the media, force a smile, and do her best to sugar-coat what she has been sugar-coating for the last 11 years.
Forgive her if she had a bit of a deer-in-the-headlights look.
Yes, she had lost to Serena Williams again. Yes, Williams served big and hit big and is a wonderful player and seems to thrive on occasions such as Thursday's, a Wimbledon semifinal.
"She does always come with her best tennis," Sharapova said, glancing around like somebody hoping to find a secret exit.