Last chance for Serena
SERENA Williams will once again be counted on to wave the Stars and Stripes at the US Open as she takes centre stage at Flushing Meadows, with the next generation of American tennis hopefuls waiting in the wings.
The world No 1 has always made a point of how special it is to play at home, and there is no bigger stage than centre court at the US National Tennis Centre during the year’s final Grand Slam.
Expectations weigh on Williams, but it is a burden she has capably carried on her muscular shoulders since claiming her maiden Grand Slam on the New York hard courts in 1999, and 14 years later continues to do the heavy-lifting for US tennis.
“I love playing in the USA,” said Williams after winning the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last Sunday.
Williams has reached the US Open winner’s circle five times, and is favoured to add a sixth to her collection when the gates open tomorrow.
She arrives in New York proclaiming to be at the top of her game, riding the momentum from hard court titles in Stanford and Cincinnati that book-end a semi-final appearance in Montreal, where she lost to her resurgent sister, Venus.
Adding to Williams’s confidence, the path to the September 7 women’s final has been cleared of at least one major obstacle, with another limping.
For the last two years, Williams has needed three sets to tame Victoria Azarenka and lift the crown, but the Belarusian has missed a large chunk of the current campaign with a foot injury. Another potential threat, world No 3 and Australian Open champion Li Na, will not play in New York because of a knee injury.
If there is one cloud hanging over Williams’s US Open build-up, it has been her less than stellar play in the three Grand Slams this year.
A fourth-round loss at the Australian Open followed by a second-round exit at the French and a third-round upset at Wimbledon has left the US Open as Williams’s last opportunity this season to add to her haul of 17 Grand Slam singles titles.
“To me, Serena’s still at her best, better than everyone else,” US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez said.
“We’ve seen her falter at the majors and not be at her best. So I think that gives hope to everybody else, that she isn’t invincible.”
A victory at Flushing Meadows would move Williams level with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time list with 18 titles, behind only Australian Margaret Court (24) and Steffi Graf (22).
“She’s playing for history now and she gets uptight,” said Fernandez. “She’s the first person to admit it.”
Williams, who will turn 33 on September 26, has dutifully held the fort in recent years, waiting for rein-
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Eight American women featured in the top 50 of the world rankings going into the year’s final Grand Slam.
Venus is 34, yet remains the second ranked American at No 20.
Sloane Stephens is the next best placed American at 22, followed by Madison Keys at 28.
Maria Sharapova, the 2006 US Open champion, has had a steady build-up, while Agnieszka Radwanska will fancy her chances at a maiden Grand Slam. Caroline Wozniacki will also be eyeing her Grand Slam breakthrough.
“It’s pretty wide open (after Williams),” said Fernandez. “Li Na’s not around, so that’s one less top player. If Serena loses, then look out. It’s wide open.”