The Mail on Sunday

Osaka injury boost for Serena’s quest

- By Mike Dickson

SERENA WILLIAMS’ hopes of lifting that elusive 24th Grand Slam title received a boost when Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw from her scheduled final yesterday ahead of the US Open.

Osaka concluded a turbulent week by pulling out of the relocated Cincinnati Open final at Flushing Meadows with a hamstring injury, two days after her stand against police violence caused the tournament to be delayed.

That handed the title to Victoria Azarenka but it is also some encouragem­ent to Williams as the Japanese player is one of only four from the WTA’s top 10 who have travelled to New York for the Grand Slam event that starts tomorrow.

The 38-year-old American is seeded three as she tries to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 singles’ majors, having failed to win one since the 2017 Australian Open, after which she took a break to have a baby. ‘I will never be satisfied until I retire,’ said Williams of her quest. ‘That’s been the story of my career. It’s been a chaotic year. Normally I feel a bit more played in, but it’s not even the final slam of the year.’

Williams was slightly equivocal when asked if she supported Osaka’s decision to refuse to play her warm-up tournament match on Thursday, saying: ‘There has been a lot of stuff going on as we know. That was Naomi’s decision. If it was a good decision, which she felt was the right one, it’s good for her to come to that. You know how I feel. There’s a lot of injustice going on. But I have other beliefs, more spiritual beliefs.’

Williams, who turns 39 next month, suffered a disappoint­ing second-round loss in the displaced Cincinatti event but has a reasonable draw next week, facing compatriot Kristie Ahn in the first round.

 ??  ?? AMERICAN DREAM:
Serena Williams is bidding to equal the record for slam titles
AMERICAN DREAM: Serena Williams is bidding to equal the record for slam titles

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom