WTA tour: Top ten players in 2010 – Part seven
4. Serena Williams
Born on September 26, 1981 in the city of Saginaw, Serena Williams is a professional tennis player from the United States of America. She is currently ranked number four in the world.
Serena’s first scheduled competition in 2010 was the Medibank International Sydney where she eventually finished runner up to Elena Dementieva of Russia in two sets. The final match score was 6–3, 6–2.
At the year’s opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open in Melbourne, Williams was the defending champion in both doubles as well as singles. She made her way into the quarters in singles without even dropping a single set. The American
next toppled Victoria Azarenka followed by another victory over Li Na to reach her fifth final in Melbourne. In the title battle, she did well to beat Justine Henin in three sets for her twelfth Grand Slam crown. The final match score was 6–4, 3–6, 6–2.
After such a stellar start to the season, Williams was forced to withdraw from her next five competitions as a result of her leg injury. The American made a comeback on the tour by playing at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in
Rome where she couldn’t go beyond the semi final stage as the right hander was crushed by Jelena Jankovic in three sets. The final match score was 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(5).
At the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, the Florida resident after receiving a first round bye dismissed Vera Dushevina in the lengthiest match of her career in three sets. The final match score was 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 7–6(5). She, however,
fell in the next round at the hands of sixteenth seed Nadia Petrova.
Her next scheduled competition was the French Open at Roland Garros where the former world number one beat Shahar Pe'er in the fourth round before losing to her Australian foe, Samantha Stosur in the quarters. The final score line
was 6–3, 6–7(2), 8–6. It was the first major event that the American had not won since 2008 French Open.
The 175 cm tall next took part at the grass court Grand Slam tournament where she overpowered Maria Sharapova to advance into the quarters. The American played extremely well throughout the event and made her way into the finals
beating Li Na and Petra Kvitova on her way. In the title battle, world number four dispatched off Vera Zvonareva of Russia in two sets to pick up the title at the All England Club. She won the crown without even dropping a single set.
After Williams victory, Martina Navratilova commented on her brilliance by saying, “Williams is in the "top five" of all the women's tennis players. It is not just about how many Slams you win or how many tournaments you win but
in fact it is just your game overall. And she is definitely got all the goods."
On July 7, the 29-year-old Williams injured her right foot by stepping on broken glass while in a restaurant. The American received eighteen stitches however the next day she played in an exhibition clash against Kim Clijsters
which further worsened the injury. As a result, Serena had to undergo a surgical operation and thus skipped all the summer competitions, including the year’s final major, the United States Open in New York. She, afterwards, also announced her withdrawal from
the tour for the rest of the season and thus also lost her number one spot in the world.
Serena Williams finished the 2010 season ranked number four in the South African Airways WTA list despite having competed in only six events on the tour.
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