In noting that Wimbledon will be her 2013 priority, Maria Sharapova also mentioned something interesting about Serena Williams, her vanquisher by a 6-4, 6-3 score in the WTA Championships final on Sunday: "She plays a very physical tennis and when she is in top form it's very difficult to beat her but I will try to take my revenge next year."
The Spin's favorite part of that article may be its final four words: "said the Florida-based Russian." Of course she said that; her career head-to-head record against Williams is now 2-10, with both victories coming in 2004, at Wimbledon and at the same year-end parade of winners where she just lost in the final round.
Somewhat related: Here's an intriguing chart-style breakdown of how year-end No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, Sharapova, and Serena all claimed their 2012 WTA ranking points, surface by surface, across hard, clay, and grass courts. (Psst. Wildly, Sharapova is far ahead of the other two on clay, but Azarenka is regal on hard courts overall, and Serena, of course, flat-out owns the lawns.)
—Jonathan Scott (@jonscott9)