• Miami Masters

Sharapova's hoodoo against Williams continues in Miami

ESPN staff
March 27, 2014
Serena Williams has not lost to Maria Sharapova since 2004 © Getty Images
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Serena Williams recorded her 15th straight win against Maria Sharapova with a 6-4 6-3 victory to reach the final of the Miami Masters.

Williams is bidding for a record seventh title at Crandon Park and will now face either Lia Na or Dominika Cibulkova in what will be her ninth final in the event.

Nine aces helped the American to victory but Sharapova struggled on her serve; the fourth seed hit five double faults and was broken five times during the one hour 37 minutes on court in Key Biscayne.

Sharapova looked set to take the first set after she stretched into a 4-1 lead but Williams hit back with five straight games to seal the opener.

The Russian broke to lead 2-0 in the second but Williams, who beat five-time runner-up Sharapova in last year's final, was unfazed as she regrouped to reach yet another final in Miami.

"It wasn't easy," Williams said. "Obviously Maria plays really well, and she's done really well here, so I just decided I had to do a little better, stay focused and make more shots."

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