Serena Williams played in many special matches throughout the course of her illustrious career.

The 43-year-old played for almost three decades and captured the biggest titles on multiple occasions against her biggest rivals.

There are certain battles that optimise a player’s legacy and their success in the game and the 23-time Grand Slam champion engaged in a special battle back in 2005.

This was a match that not only helped Serena Williams win a big title, but changed the trajectory of a rivalry forever.

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Looking back at Serena Williams’ 2005 Australian Open semi-final

Entering the 2005 season, WIlliams already had six Grand Slam titles to her game.

But she began that campaign after going through 2004 without winning a major. Maria Sharapova contributed to that drought by defeating Williams in that year’s Wimbledon final.

The Russian defeated Williams again in the final of the season-ending championships, and she was going for a third successive win over her rival in the final four of the 2005 Australian Open.

Sharapova made a lightning start by taking the first set 6-2. She then broke Williams’ serve to go up 5-4 and serve for a place in the final. But the American stormed back and claimed the next three games to take the match in the deciding set.

The pair exchanged breaks of serve in the early stages of set three, before Sharapova broke at 5-4 to serve for the match for a second time. Once again Williams would not be denied and saved three match points before drawing level at 5-5.

Williams saved more break points before opening up a 6-5 lead, and though Sharapova leveled the set a 6-6, Williams won the next two games to seal one of the most hard-fought victories of her career.

Williams was the seventh seeded player at the time and she defeated top seed Lindsay Davenport to win the title, while Sharapova would have torrid time each match she faced Serena from that point on.

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Serena Williams dominates head-to-head rivalry with Maria Sharapova

That 2005 Australian Open defeat to Williams had devastating ramifications for Sharapova.

Following that match, the pair played one another on 18 occasions, and the American emerged victorious each time.

Of the 22 total matches they played, Sharapova won just twice. Following their two hour and 39-minute battle, a relieved Williams addressed the crowd.

“It definitely lived up to everyone’s expectations and it was a lot of fun. I am really happy to get through,” said Williams, who went on to win her first major since Wimbledon 2003.

“I am so excited to be in another final, it has been such a tough 12 months for me. I want to thank everyone for supporting me.”