Author Sharapova snipes back in Serena book row

PARIS - Former world No 1 Maria Sharapova hit back at Serena Williams' criticism of her autobiography on Wednesday - two days after their much-anticipated showdown at the French Open was scuppered by an injury to her American rival.

Williams had described Sharapova's book Unstoppable, in which the Russian claimed the American hated her for beating her in the 2004 Wimbledon final and reducing her to "guttural sobs", as"100 percent hearsay".

The 23-time Grand Slam champion also expressed her surprise that so much of Sharapova's book revolved around her.