Luck on Serena’s side at Wimbledon
WIMBLEDON, England - There’s no denying that talent and hard work are the most necessary components to becoming a champion, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to have a little luck on your side.
Thus far at Wimbledon, Serena Williams seems to have good fortune in her corner.
That’s a significant relief considering this is only her fourth tournament back since giving birth to daughter, Alexis Olympia, last September.
After securing a 7-5, 7-6 (2) third round win over Kristina Mladenovic of France on Friday, Williams spoke to BBC TV straight off the court.
“I’m really happy,” she said. “This is only my second serious tournament back. I worked really, really, really hard and it’s been a long arduous road. I always come out expecting the best of myself.”
Later on, she elaborated on her comeback.
“The first two (tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami) were just really just getting back out there, getting back in the competition, which I think was super, super important,” she said. “Then after Miami, I just pulled out of everything, just really focused on getting right, letting go of a lot of stuff and….being that tennis player again.”
The good vibes started for Williams when Wimbledon took into consideration just who she is: an eight-time champion with 23 overall Grand Slam titles.
Instead of being unseeded, Williams, currently ranked No. 181 in the world after her maternity leave, was placed as the 25th-seed by the seeding committee, guaranteeing the 36-yearold a few rounds before possibly playing a seeded opponent.
As if that isn’t enough of an advantage, it turns out the draw has opened up for Williams as if Moses was parting the Red Sea. Heading into the fourth round, Williams is the only seeded player remaining in her quarter of the draw.
Gone from her section are 2nd-seed Caroline Wozniacki, 5th-seed Elina Svitolina, 10th-seed Madison Keys, 16thseed Coco Vandeweghe, 19th-seed Magdalena Rybarikova, 21st-seed Anastasija Sevastova and 32nd-seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
So in a unique situation, it will be a mom-vs-mom fourth round encounter on Monday when Williams plays Russian qualifier Evgeniya Rodina, the mother of 5-year-old Anna.
When Rodina upset Keys 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 Friday morning, it left Williams with not one player ranked in the top 50 in her quarter of the draw. Her potential quarterfinal opponents would be Russian Ekaterina Makarova, who took down Wozniacki, or Camila Giorgi of Italy.
“I think a lot of the top players are losing, but they’re losing to girls that are playing outstanding,” said Williams, taking note that only top-seed Simona Halep and 7th-seed Karolina Pliskova remain among the top eight seeds.
“I think, if anything, it shows me every moment that I can’t underestimate any of these ladies. They are just going out there swinging and playing for broke.”
If there’s one thought that Williams has repeatedly said since her return it’s that mounting a comeback after having a baby is the most difficult challenge she’s faced in her career.
Even knowing how much of a competitive drive she possesses, Williams appears surprised at what she is achieving.
“It’s amazing for me to be out here,” Williams said. “A year ago I was still pregnant. Then my delivery took a turn south fast, so that wasn’t fun. But it’s that that makes me appreciate that I’m out here, that I’m alive, that I’m able to be here and do well and to play well.”
Friday turned out to be a day of coincidence for the Williams sisters, who both battled against players named Kiki. Serena walked away a winner against Mladenovic, who is nicknamed Kiki, while Venus left disappointed.
The 38-year-old Venus fought valiantly through an intense third set, but was ushered to the exit by Kiki Bertens of Netherlands 6-2, 6-7 (5), 8-6.
“The third set was really competitive, Venus said. “It was just toe-to-toe there. I just ran out of time in the end. She played really well, You have to win the last point, and I didn’t succeed in that today.”