SERENA HAS HER BACKERS
Olympians and music royalty come out for Williams
Serena Williams, the queen of the court, can even get music’s royal couple out to Arthur Ashe Stadium. Friends Jay Z and Beyonce were in Williams’ box, cheering as she beat Vania King 6-3, 6-3 Thursday night to move into the third round of the U.S. Open.
Hours after Nike debuted an ad proclaiming her the greatest athlete ever — and Williams herself had debuted a music video with WilldaBeast Adams — her 306th Grand Slam singles win tied Martina Navratilova for the most by a woman. It further cemented her claim as the best female tennis player — and furthered the question of whether she’s the best in any sport, of any gender.
“Female athletes have to live with this ‘Oh, she’s a great female athlete’ instead of ‘she’s just a great athlete.’ None of the male athletes have to live with ‘Oh, he’s a great male athlete.’ They always just say athlete,’’ Williams said. “I really feel vindicated that a company so big as Nike can recognize just athletes and not put a sex behind it.
“That’s really important for that young girl that’s growing up. She wants to be a great athlete. She wants to be the greatest. She doesn’t want to be only labeled as a female athlete. I don’t think there should be labels. I’m here and I’ve been playing sports and I’m an athlete.”
And a great one. Williams is aiming for her 23rd Grand Slam title to surpass Steffi Graf and a sixth U.S. Open crown to pass Chris Evert, both Open era records. And while Williams knew Navratilova was “on the horizon,” and admits it’s “a really cool milestone,” what she’s never allowed herself to dwell on is the impact she’s having on all those aforementioned young girls growing up.
Olympic gold medalists Simone Manuel and Simone Biles have openly gushed over how they idolize Williams, the former giving her a swimming cap Tuesday at the Open. Perhaps for Williams, idol sounds like she’s standing still.
“It’s weird to have the Simones — Simone and Simone, I should say — to have them so influenced by me,’’ Williams said. “I’m still influenced by people. I’m still in this sport and I just never take that moment to look back and see all the things that I’ve done because I don’t want to do that.
“I don’t want to become complacent. So I’m still a bit in a bubble. Sometimes I just forget all the accomplishments, because I’m trying to make so many more accomplishments and trying to do so much more.”
Williams had twerked her way through an ap- pearance in Beyonce’s “Sorry” video, and on Thursday Beyonce — who has been nominated for more Grammy awards than any woman in history, and won 20 — appeared in Williams’ box alongside husband Jay Z.
Before exiting the stadium with a bodyguard phalanx and leaving in their SUV without comment, the couple saw an intense and healthy Williams, if not a sharp one.
She’s worked her way around an injured right shoulder that requires constant treatment, still hitting 121 mph on her serve and firing 13 aces — including three of her first four points. Fellow American Vania King was crisp (11 unforced errors) and stout to the end. She was just overmatched.
In their only other meeting, King had taken just a single game and lasted under an hour on Ashe. King was game this time, but didn’t have enough game for Williams, on to the third round versus Jo- hanna Larsson and likely on to the title according to King.
“My coach asks me before each tournament who do you think is going to win; and I’m like ‘I’m still in the tournament, you know.’ But I say Serena. Who else can you say? You’re always surprised if she loses,’’ said King. “She’s the best player in the world. I’m glad I’m playing with the greatest female player, possibly greatest player of all time.”