MELBOURNE — Maria Sharapova said she was inspired as well as frustrated after losing to Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday, a defeat which extended her losing streak against the American to 12 years and 18 matches.
The 28-year-old Russian, who last beat Williams at the season-ending tour championships in 2004, kept pace with her 34-year-old opponent for all but the last game of the first set, before crumbling in the second.
"It's obviously always frustrating," she said after her 6-4 6-1 loss. "I mean, it's motivating. It's tough to sit here 30 minutes after the match and talk about the match, but that's part of my job.