Serena looks imposing as she nears 24th title

The world’s 181st-ranked player is in the women’s final at Wimbledon. Only a fool would bet against her, given that the player is the mighty Serena Williams.

At 36, Williams is chasing her eighth Wimbledon title and her 24th Grand Slam. If she succeeds she will stand alongside Margaret Court, who also won 24 titles.

Williams said in London that she had not been distracted by comparisons with the Australian legend, who was without peer in the 1960s and early 70s. Williams is by any measure the women’s tennis colossus of this century and, with her sister Venus, redefined the game with their mix of power and athleticism.

Younger sister Serena is the thirdoldest woman to appear in a Grand Slam final. She had a baby, Alexis Olympia, just 10 months ago and wrote that she almost died after her pregnancy because of a pulmonary embolism, a condition that has troubled her for some time.

She rejoined the women’s circuit in March, and struggled to find her rhythm, losing two of her first four matches. Her low world ranking reflects her absence from the game. But on the grass and in the sunshine at the All England Club, she is back to her imposing best.

Her opponent tomorrow is the German Angelique Kerber, who has beaten Williams twice before, including at the Australian Open final in 2016. They met in London that year too, when Williams prevailed.

“I want to get as many as I can,” Serena told the media as she advanced to her 30th Grand Slam final. She has played in 10 Wimbledon finals. It should surprise no one if this terrific athlete wins the 11th.