How Serena Williams taught Maria Sharapova a lesson in humility

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova both left opponents in tears with crushing victories at the Australian Open.

However they had very different reactions.

After Serena powered into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday with a 6-2 6-1 demolition of Dayana Yastremska, the Ukrainian teenager couldn’t hold back the tears.

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When Serena saw her opponent’s devastation, she walked around the net and consoled the young star, offering some touching words of encouragement.

“As she was walking towards the net, I could tell she was quite upset,” Williams told reporters.

“I kind of liked that. It shows she wasn’t just there to play a good match, she was there to win. She wanted to win. That really broke my heart.”

She recalled a match where Venus left her crying after defeat.

“I remember one time in particular against Venus at Wimbledon, as I was walking to the net, I started bawling,” she said.

“I couldn’t help it. Young girls, young women, just want to go out there and do their best and want to win.”

Serena’s beautiful act of empathy for her young opponent was in complete contrast to Sharapova’s reaction in identical circumstances.

Sharapova gave young British player Harriet Dart a 6-0 6-0 shellacking on the opening day of the tournament.

In the opening match on Rod Laver Arena, the 30th seeded Russian was all over the 131st-ranked Dart from the first point, and wrapped up the match in little more than an hour after a ruthless barrage of power hitting.

The centre court humiliation had Dart weeping as she beat a hasty exit, but Sharapova had little sympathy for the 22-year-old after her nightmare debut at Melbourne Park.

“I mean, there is no time for that, I’m sorry to say,” the 2008 winner told reporters when asked if she had any empathy.

“But when you’re playing the first round of a Grand Slam — I have been in many positions, last year Wimbledon I came out against a qualifier that played really well.

“You know, there is no doubt that my level wasn’t where I wanted it to be, but she was there to take the match.

“So I’m not so much worried about my opponent, but I have to step up when the time is right and when I need to, so that’s my main goal.”