Maria Sharapova put on a brave face after her heartbreaking 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 loss to Serena Williams in the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Thursday.
The Russian teenager could not completely hide her pain after squandering three match points but said she would get over the disappointment and the defeat would ultimately make her a better player.
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"I'm 17 years old and I got to the semi-finals of the Australian Open so nothing's negative.
"This is not a sprint, it's a marathon and I'm just riding along."
Sharapova stunned Williams when she beat her in last year's Wimbledon final then proved it was no fluke when she got the better of her again in the season-ending tour championship.
The fourth seed looked certain to make it three in a row when she won the first set on Thursday and served for the match in the 10th games of the second and third sets.
Williams broke back on each occasion, however, then desperately saved three match points on Sharapova's serve in the final set before sealing victory.
"I thought it was a great match. I gave it all I've got and she gave it all she's got. The match could have gone any way," Sharapova said.
"I played from my heart. I didn't take my chances when I could and that's what this game is about. If you don't take your chances, you lose."
THIRD-SET FATIGUE
Sharapova had fought back from a set down to beat US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals and began to show signs of fatigue in the third set against Williams although her game did not suffer.
"That's not an excuse for me. Of course, you're tired but you're in a semi-final of a Grand Slam," she said.
"In my off-season, I wanted to work on my physical aspect of the game. I wanted to make sure that I was ready for this heat and I was ready to play three-set matches.
Sharapova overhit a difficult volley on the first of her three match points but was helpless on the other two when Williams reeled off two flashy winners.
Williams also saved two match points in her Australian Open semi-final against Belgian Kim Clijsters in 2003 when she won the championship and Sharapova said that experience had helped her get out of a tight situation.
"I think she got better as the match went on and she started to pick up her level. In the previous matches, I took my chances. In this match, she took her chances and that's why she won," Sharapova said.
"I think she's one of the best competitors out there. I mean, she's been in those situations when she was down in the third set, and out of nowhere she knows how to turn it around.
"That comes from experience, that comes from her fighting spirit. But, you know, hopefully I'll learn and I'll improve."
