U.S. great Lindsay Davenport claims Sharapova gets under Serena's 'skin' for some reason

Former American great Lindsay Davenport has claimed that there is some reason why Russian tennis ace Maria Sharapova gets under world number one women's tennis player Serena Williams' skin.

Serena leads Sharapova 16-2 in their matches and it is hard to call it a rivalry, but that stat doesn't speak of the animosity and ferocity the top two players in the world bring to the court when they face each other.

Davenport claimed that for whatever reason, Sharapova gets under Serena's skin, adding that the current world number one is always at her best against the Russian because in her mind, she almost refuses to lose, News.com.au reported.

Not since Sharapova stunned Serena in the 2004 Wimbledon final and at the WTA tour championships later that year has the Russian-born blonde emerged triumphant and it has been more than a decade since the world number two has beaten the American.

Sharapova just scrounged three sets from their past 15 matches, the most recent another straight sets whipping in Miami last March.

If the pair justify their top two seedings to set up another duel in the Australian Open final on Saturday week, the prospect would reportedly stir Serena far more than merely the prospect of a 19th Grand Slam singles title.

Davenport has no doubt that Sharapova brings out the best in Serena and it was the Russian's early success that has led to the world number two's struggles since.

The former world number one said that she definitely thinks that has a lot to do with it, adding that Serena wants to be the top dog and makes no bones about it. And Davenport believes that the American was a little bit thrown in 2004 when someone came up and beat her.

Davenport claims that Serena was surprised by Sharapova at Wimbledon, not really knowing her game, adding that in the second win, Serena was hurt.

Davenport claimed that when the two play, Serena is always focused, always concentrated and a player that likes the ball she's getting, and so, she added that one wants to bottle that if one is in Serena's camp as to how she plays against Sharapova each and every time because she's at her best against the Russian.