What happens when a seven-time champion meets a three-time champion on the clay courts of Foro Italico in Rome?

Let’s make it more interesting: What if the players involved are Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova. Who would draw first blood?

Well, we might not have an exact answer to that but we do know that it was Sharapova who won the first point, at least in the video below.

Sharapova and Nadal had a brief hitting session together between their practice sessions at the ongoing Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The Russian posted the video on Twitter, saying it was an item crossed off her bucket list.

It was a good, long rally, with powerful strokes that saw Sharapova finally induce an error from the player called the “King of Clay”. She also said that she was nervous playing the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Times). Nadal, on his part, replied saying it was a pleasure playing with her.

Sharapova will begin her Rome campaign against Ashleigh Barty while Nadal will play either Fernando Verdasco or Damir Dzumhur in a bid for his eighth title. The Masters tournament in Rome is his last big event before the French Open, where he will be gunning for his 17th Grand Slam and 11th title at Roland Garros.