Serena expands her title horizons

FOR Serena Williams, there are no limits.

Not even the lingering danger of pulmonary embolisms, an impending 37th birthday, or the challenge of winning another major just 10 months after nearly dying are hurdles.

Combined, it’s what Williams faces — and stares down.

One victory away from equalling Margaret Court’s longstanding grand slam record of 24 majors, Williams says beating Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final tonight is a starting point, not the end.

“As I said in the past couple of years, I don’t want to limit myself,” she said after downing German Julia Goerges to reach her 30th major final.

“I think that’s what I was doing in the past, I was limiting myself.”

Asked what a 24th title would mean, Williams said: “It’s just a number. I want to get as many as I can … I still have a match to win, so I’m not even there yet.”

Williams almost died after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia, who was at Centre Court as her mother reached her 10th Wimbledon final.

“Because of all the blood issues I have, I was really touch and go for a minute,” she said.

“It was tough. There was a time I could barely walk to my mailbox.

“A lot of people were saying [pre-tournament], ‘oh, she should be in the final’.

“For me, it’s such a pleasure and a joy because, you know, less than a year ago I was going through so much stuff.

“Having to deal with PEs, pulmonary embolisms, is more mentally challenging because I don’t know if I have a pain in my leg, I automatically go to the worst-case scenario.

“It’s mentally very, very dif- ficult. I didn’t know I would have such kind of traumatic thoughts, especially now that I have a daughter … I want to be around as long as I can to support her. It’s interesting how that mental recovery is actu- ally taking much longer than I ever expected.”

If successful against Kerber, Williams will emulate Evonne Goolagong-Cawley’s feat to lift the world’s greatest tennis title as a mother.