After more than a decade of losses to Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova is getting good at being gracious in defeat. The Australian Open final Saturday demonstrated just how far the gap is between No. 1 and No. 2 following Sharapova’s 16th loss in a row to Williams — 6-3, 7-6 (5) at Rod Laver Arena.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova said Williams’ serves were so fast, it was hard to even make contact with the ball. “I’ve got to congratulate Serena on creating history, on playing some of her best tennis,” Sharapova said at the ceremony, where she held back tears before stepping up to the microphone. “I haven’t beaten her in a really long time. But I love every time I step on court against her, because she’s been the best. And as a tennis player you want to play against the best.”

It was Williams’ 19th Grand Slam title, moving her ahead of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and three behind Steffi Graf’s Open-era leading total of 22. Sharapova has now lost every match against Williams since the WTA finals in 2004. “I’ve had some of the best memories of my career on this court and also some of the toughest losses, but that’s the life of a tennis player,” said Sharapova, who won the Australian Open in 2008 but has lost two finals and three semifinals — including one of each to Williams.

“If I’m getting to the stage of competing against someone like Serena, I’m doing something well,” Sharapova said. “It’s frustrating to be the one going home with the small trophy. But I do love the battle. I love high-quality tennis. I love being part of it. It’s a lot better than watching it on TV. I’m proud to be part of an era where she’s in.”

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1.How did Sharapova felt after the match?

A Sorry and proud.

B Happy and anxious.

C Excited and Glad.

D Frustrated and gracious.

解析：选A。A。推理判断题。根据第二段第二句的where she held back tears before stepping up to the microphone可以莎拉波娃哭泣了，并且从第一段第一句的Maria Sharapova is getting good at being gracious(优雅的) in defeat可知她比赛输掉了，因此她感觉“难过、遗憾”；从文章最后一段的最后一句的I’m proud to be part of an era where she’s in，可以得知她仍然感觉到骄傲。

2.During the matches with Williams, Sharapova ______.

A never made contact with the ball

B never defeated her since 2004

C never enjoyed the game with her

D never created the large gap

解析：选B。B。细节理解题。根据第三段第二句的Sharapova has now lost every match against Williams since the WTA finals in 2004可知从2004年以后莎拉波娃从来就没打败过小威廉姆斯。

3.What is the right order of the player who won Grand Slam title?

A Chris Evert- Martina Navratilova -Steffi Graf- Williams

B Williams - Steffi Graf-Chris Evert- Martina Navratilova

C Steffi Graf-Chris Evert- Martina Navratil - Williams ova

D Steffi Graf- Williams -Chris Evert- Martina Navratilova

解析：选D。D。细节理解题。 根据第三段第一句的moving her ahead of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and three behind Steffi Graf’s Open-era leading total of 22.可知得知其正确的排序为D。

4.The underlined word “trophy” means _____.

A prize

B loss

C competition

D game

解析：选A。A。词义猜测题。根据第四段第一句的It’s frustrating to be the one going home可知要回家了，并且被小威廉姆斯打败了，因此带回了不太让人满意的“奖品”，所以该词的意思为prize。

5.Where would this passage most probably appear? 　　

A In a medical research in text.

B In a police report about reward.

C In an advertisement in newspaper.　

D In a sports report in newspaper.

解析：选D。D。推理判断题。该文章讲述的是在澳网中败北的莎拉波娃的表现；因此该篇文章应该出现在报纸的体育报道部分。