Serena Williams well on course for her fourth US Open title – Tennis Special: Part Two
American number one, Serena Williams, re-focused her strategy before entering the Wimbledon Championships, a major grass court tournament held in London.
Currently ranked fourth in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Williams showed her class in the opening round and triumphed over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in straight sets. She improved her form in the following
round and crushed the Hungarian qualifier, Melinda Czink, with a breadstick.
In the third round, 25th seeded Jie Zheng gave her tough time and pocketed the opener. However, the American brought her experience into handy and carved out the victory after hitting 23 aces.
She also rallied past the Kazakhstani wildcard entrant, Yaroslava Shvedova, in a three-set thriller before seeking her rhythm in the final eight. Williams blocked the lone breakpoint she encountered and fired 13 aces. The American
cased in half of the four break chances and stunned the defending champion, Petra Kvitova, in straight sets.
The Palm Beach resident, Williams maintained consistency in her game against the second seed, Victoria Azarenka, and after sealing the deal in straight sets, she booked a spot in the final round. The American battled past the Polish
number one, Agnieszka Radwanska, in three sets before claiming her fifth Wimbledon title.
The ecstatic American was quoted in a courtside interview after conquering the prestigious grass court tournament at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club:
"Oh my God, I can't even describe it. I want to thank Jehovah for letting me get this far. I almost didn't make it a few years ago, but now I'm here again and it's so worth it. I'm so happy. I've dreamed of being here again. It
shows if you never give up, you can achieve anything."
Spicing her achievements further, she teamed up with her sister, Venus, to capture the doubles title of this grass court Grand Slam event.
The 30-year-old high-spiritedly entered the Bank of the West Classic, a WTA hard court tournament, where she was defending her title. She carried her momentum from Wimbledon and crippled her opponents with a breadstick or a bagel
en route to the title-round. Seeded top in this event, Williams eased past sixth seeded Chanelle Scheepers and ninth seeded Sorana Cirstea before setting up a date with the local lucky loser, Coco Vandeweghe. She formulated a straight set victory against her
lower ranked compatriot and lifted the crystalware.
Williams stated after clinching her 43rd career title at the Premier-level event held in Stanford:
"I've never felt this fit, this strong, this happy to play - and I think I can be even better. I want to sustain this momentum and build on what I did at Wimbledon.”
After stealing the show at the Bank of the West Classic, the Saginaw native tied with her sister, Venus, for most WTA titles among active players.
With this hard court victory, she is all geared up for her second Grand Slam title this circuit at the Flushing Meadows in Corona Park.
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