Serena set to call the shots in Paris

American's fearsome serve will not prove to be such a lethal weapon on the slower surface of clay

ACE: Serena Williams


SERENA WILLIAMS, a perennial contender at the French Open, enters next week’s rescheduled Grand Slam aiming to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24th major singles titles.

Yet the American ace, who turns 39 on September 26, arrives with doubts over her ability on the Paris clay having skipped the Rome Open with an Achilles tendon injury that she picked up during her US Open semi-final defeat.

Williams’ over reliance on her thunderous serve and thumping backhand at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York earlier this month came crashing down in the last four to old foe Victoria Azarenka.

The Belarus star, making her comeback on the WTA Tour, ended Williams’ dream of finally scooping the seemingly elusive 24th Slam crown. As well as Azarenka looking like a serious threat to the veteran collecting a fourth French Open title, there are also clay court experts such as Simona Halep, the Romania won the recent Italian Open, and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza who will be contenders to triumph.

Rematch

No.6 seed Williams arrives in Paris without any competitive clay court matches under her belt, and she faces a rematch against US compatriot Kristie Ahn in the opening round. The 28-year-old New Yorker, of Korean descent, fell to Williams in straight sets at the US Open in the opening round at Flushing Meadows. That was a big win for Williams as Ahn breezed through to the last 16 at the 2019 US Open as a wildcard entry.

Williams’ fearsome serve will not prove to be such a lethal weapon on the slower surface of clay, although she is second on the WTA Tour – behind Japan’s Naomi Osaka who triumphed at the US Open – by winning 83% of her service games this year.

With health complications, following the 2017 birth of daughter Olympia, Williams preferred private living quarters for the US Open due to her medical history. However, the organisers of the French Open have been adamant that all participating players will have to stay at one of two hotels booked by the tournament owners, even those who own properties in the French capital such as Williams.

Fans

Already half-a-dozen players in the qualifiers at Roland Garros have reportedly tested positive for Covid-19, yet the main tournament is still scheduled to start on September 28. The Slam organisers announced earlier this month that a limited number of fans would be able to attend the tournament in Paris, yet they are will keep the players in the event’s bubble.

Williams, who has lost her past four Slam singles finals, is determined to finally equal Court’s long-standing record of major titles and explained: As Billie Jean King said, ‘Pressure is a privilege’. So I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I just try to think about how fortunate I am to have been in this position, and honestly it feels weird to say that.”

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