Serena hopes shoulder holds up in NY
World No.1 is chasing record seventh US Open and modern era all-time high of 23 Grand Slams
NEW YORK: Serena Williams unveiled a new sports bra and tennis racquet in a dizzying round of commercial duties this week, but when talk turned to her injured shoulder on Friday, the American preferred to reveal as little as possible.
The 34-year-old world No.1, who is chasing a record seventh US Open and modern era all-time high of 23 Grand Slams in New York, has been slowed by a shoulder inflammation which led to an early Olympics exit after losing to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in Rio.
It also saw her withdraw from the Cincinnati event last week.
“I have not played a lot, I haven’t practised a lot, but I’m just now starting to feel a little better. Hopefully just every day I will keep going higher,” said the American.
“The US Open is obviously a special place. I think usually I prefer to play more coming into the final Grand Slam of the year, but there is nothing we can do about it.
“You just have to make the best of every single opportunity. That’s all I can do now.”
But when asked to elaborate on the seriousness of the shoulder injury, the top seed shrugged: “Yeah, no, just shoulder-wise. I am starting to feel better so that’s a positive.”
Williams equalled Steffi Graf ’s Open era record of 22 majors with victory at Wimbledon in July.
It was a win which came after a dispiriting run at the Slams — a shock semi-final defeat to Roberta Vinci in New York 12 months ago followed by losses in the Australian and French Open finals to Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza respectively.
Ironically, those two women have the chance to snatch the world No.1 ranking from Williams in New York.
The American, however, could break Graf’s record of 186 consecutive weeks on top of the world rankings.
Williams begins her US Open campaign against experienced Ekaterina Makarova of Russia.
Makarova, the world No.36, reached the semi-finals in 2014, losing to the American in straight sets.
But she beat Williams in the round of 16 at the Australian Open in 2012.
“I know she’s a good player. I’ve just got to do the best I can,” said Williams.
“She’s a big fighter. She never really stops. I think one thing I think that’s pretty impressive is she gets a lot of balls back. You think she’s not super quick, but she is.”
Meanwhile, Germany’s Kerber, 28, boasts a title at Stuttgart, an Olympic silver medal and finals appearances at Brisbane in January and this month in Cincinnati — where she missed her first chance to supplant Williams atop the rankings.
Being viewed as a l egitimate threat to Williams, Kerber said, “is really special”.
“Because Serena is one of the best players and athletes in the world,” she said. “Of course it’s really special that a lot of people are speaking about her and then speaking about me.”
Third-seeded Spaniard Muguruza also has a shot at the top, although the 22-year-old who stunned Williams in the French Open final will need her best US Open ever to do so.
In three main-draw appearances she has won just one match. Turning around her Flushing Meadows fortunes would further her aim of establishing herself as more than “the girl that beat Serena” at Roland Garros.
“I want to really do well there,” the Spaniard said. “Hopefully this is the year.”
Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland also has an outside chance at the world No.1 ranking if she can claim her first Grand Slam title.
Like Radwanska, Romanian fifth seed Simona Halep is seeking a Grand Slam breakthrough while sixth-seeded Venus Williams, who counts two US Open victories among her seven Grand Slam singles titles, is one of a handful of former champions among the seeds.
That includes 2004 winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and Australian Samantha Stosur — who toppled Serena in the 2011 final.
Last year’s US Open champion Flavia Pennetta of Italy will not defend her title after retiring at the end of last year.