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Serena Williams’ lengthy pursuit of Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles resumes at a 2020 US Open that promises to be unlike any other.
The absence of fans due to coronavirus concerns means the rumors and hubbub that define the US Open will be lacking.
Williams, whose 23 major victories are an Open-era record, will have nothing but his own ability and will to get through tough times as he seeks a record seventh title on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.
“I don’t dislike him and that’s strange because I’m a player who is very emotional and so, like an audience player,” Williams said upon returning to action after the WTA coronavirus shutdown. “It reminds me a bit of the days of youth. There is some nostalgia in that. “
READ: Djokovic and Williams pursue tennis history in US Open COVID bubble
Playing in a virtually empty Ashe Stadium, with a capacity of more than 23,000 people, could be another story.
“Playing in New York will be interesting because the stadium is huge,” Williams said. “But I practice in empty stadiums, so I played in New York at Arthur Ashe Stadium when it was empty and it was great.
“I guess I have to lean on that.”
It has been more than three years since Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open, when she was already pregnant with her daughter Olympia.
He’s been close since then, reaching four major finishes only to come up empty-handed.
“I’ve definitely gotten stuck,” said Williams, who appears to have grown weary of questions about the court’s record, if not the prosecution itself.
Even if it reaches the milestone, he said, it wouldn’t provide any kind of punctuation mark.
“I’m never satisfied, that’s the story of my career,” Williams said. “I will never be satisfied until I retire, that’s just my personality.”
Her chances of leveling the floor and breaking a tie with Chris Evert for most of the US Open women’s titles with six would appear to improve with a group of top-tier players, including world number two Simona Halep and Canada’s Bianca Andreescu. , which surprised Williams. in the final last year, due to coronavirus concerns or injuries.
But Williams has been vulnerable in two tournaments since the WTA tour returned to action, going through long games before departures earlier than expected at Lexington and the Western & Southern Open, held this year on the same courts in New York. York that will host the Open.
Learning to win
He fell to Shelby Rogers in 116th place at Lexington, and squandered a dominant lead in a loss to Maria Sakkari of Greece in 21st in New York.
“I have to start learning how to score big points,” Williams said after failing to pull off a straight sets win against Sakkari. “If I could focus on how to win that point, it would be better.
“I had so many chances to win and I have to solve that one, like how to start winning those games again.”
Defeats like that have caused Williams to lose the aura of invincibility he once had.
And this year’s upstart hopefuls will not find themselves against the will of thousands of pro-Williams fans.
But Sakkari said that for young players there is still a measure of fear in facing an opponent that shaped their tennis dreams.
“I remember watching tennis and I remember watching Serena,” said the 25-year-old. “That is the image I have in my mind.
“I mean, obviously she’s like the GOAT (greatest of all time),” Sakkari said. “Having her still on tour is amazing.”
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