Maria Sharapova 2012 Australian Open

Australian Open 2012

Meanwhile Sharapova has ransacked the competition on her way to the fourth round, winning six consecutive sets 6-0, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. In short, the 24-year-old looks poised to recreate the magic she produced at the Open in 2008. Sharapova has not won a Grand Slam tournament since the Australian Open that year, only adding to her motivation this January.

So what gives Sharapova the undeniable edge over a five-time Aussie Open champ in Williams? The fact that Sharapova is younger, fresher and hungrier for a title than Williams.

The 30-year-old Williams recently admitted that her heart wasn't in tennis anymore and that she has always been a sort of "lazy" person. Nowadays it seems Williams is much more interested in the world of fashion than the world of tennis.

A quarterfinal matchup with a player of Sharapova's status would prove that there is a high level of desire necessary to win at the Australian Open, tennis' highest level.

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Sharapova is not ranked fourth in the world for her gorgeous looks. Her tennis does the talking and will continue to do so as the tournament wages on. She has yet to prove what Williams has already, and a win over a declining legend would certainly add another dimension to Sharapova's legacy.

The two have met twice in a Grand Slam final. Sharapova edged Williams at Wimbledon in 2004 and Williams knocked off Sharapova in the 2007 Australian Open final.

Both players will be favorites to survive the fourth round on Day 8. Williams will face off against Ekaterina Makarova while Sharapova will do battle with Sabine Lisicki. At this stage the two seemed destined to meet, and when they do it will be the youth and fire of Sharapova that has the last laugh.

Australian Open 2012

If top-ranked women's tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams can survive the fourth round at Australian Open 2012 in Melbourne, then fans will be treated to an epic quarterfinal showdown between two of the sport's best.

However, Russian superstar Sharapova would win in dominating fashion, much to the chagrin of fans of American tennis especially.

Quite simply, Sharapova has looked absolutely superb in three matches Down Under, while the 12th-ranked Williams has shown glimpses of early-exit potential. Williams struggled with Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the second round, winning 6-0, 6-4.