Serena-ty now!
Williams OK with ‘everything’ getting asterisk in wild 2020
Serena Williams says she’ll gladly deal with not having the raucous fans root her on at Arthur Ashe Stadium in her current mode of super safety.
Because of preexisting conditions which include multiple blood clots, Williams, 38, admitted she considered not playing the U.S. Open until having extensive talks with USTA officials about their safety plan.
The tennis legend also believes an asterisk will be put on “everything’’ in 2020 — not just the U.S. Open champion.
In a Zoom call to promote the Western & Southern Open that’s been moved to Flushing and starts Saturday without fans, Williams sounded relieved at the diligence used to formuate the USTA’s bubble plan.
Williams is one of the “limited’’ number of players who opted to rent a private home rather than stay in the bubble hotel near the Nassau Coliseum. She is vying to tie Margaret Court for most Grand Slam titles at 24.
“I didn’t want to be in the hotel because I have lung issues,’’ Williams said. “I felt it was a big risk personally. In my house I can control more. There’s no housekeeping as much. I want to be there because I have too many health issues. It’s important for me to take so many precautions. I really had to put my mind at rest to be able to perform in New York.”
Six of the top 10 women’s players backed out, including defending champion Bianca Andreescu, who beat Williams in the 2019 Open finals preventing her from tying Court last September.
“A lot of people are here, tremendous amount of people aren’t here as well,’’ Williams said. “Tennis still has to be played. I think this whole year deserves an asterisk. It’s such a special year in history in this world. Not this generation. Not this lifetime. In history period. We’re living a future history lesson.
“There’ll always be some kind of asterisk by it. It’s never been done before. If you win it, it’s like, wow, I was able to win in this crazy circumstance where there were no fans, sterile and weird but I eventually came through. It might be a more mental test than anything.’’
Williams has been the top fan favorite for years at the Open. Now there are no fans to feed off.
“I hope I’m a fan favorite,’’ Williams said. “I love playing here. I’m vintage. I don’t have many years left. It would be nice to keep winning. I don’t mind not having the fans. I would love the fans to be here. It’s so special to play with the fans. They pull me up when I’m down. But we need to be safe right now. Let’s not have anyone and when we’re all feeling better, we can all come back and have fun.’’
Because of her history of blood clots Williams said she’s taking an extraordinary amount of vitamins.
“There was definitely a point where in the beginning I said there was no way these tournaments can happen,’’ Williams said. “But I had a lot great talks with people in the USTA about the protocols that they have, which are so intense. It definitely makes me feel safe. I see that every day they are following through with the protocols.”