SERENA Williams has comprehensively rewritten the record books during her trophy-laden time in tennis and even before a shot has been played at Flushing Meadows this fortnight there was confirmation of another first.
Whether or not the 34-year-old goes on to add the “calendar slam” (winning all four major titles in 2015) to her “Serena slam” (she is already the holder of all four major titles, a feat she also achieved in 2002/03), Williams has already recorded one notable achievement at this year’s US Open. The prospect of witnessing her chasing this piece of history has led to tickets for the women’s final selling out more quickly than the men’s, something that USTA spokesperson Chris Widmaier confirmed had never happened in recent memory.
So imperious has Williams been in recent times that there is a seeming inevitability about her coronation in Queens. The editors of Sports Illustrated and New York Times Magazine certainly think so, making her the cover star of their most recent publications. She even commands the showbiz gossip columns due to her rumoured relationship with R ’n’ B star Drake. She transcends the sport itself, being compared to other celebrated sports stars such as Muhammad Ali and Lionel Messi.
In all likelihood, the first calendar slam since Steffi Graf’s in 1988 will come to pass. That would move Serena on to 22 major titles, drawing her level with Graf, and just two behind all-time leader Margaret Court. She would also become the first man or woman in the Open Era to rack up seven US Open wins.
It would be a Hollywood ending all right but just perhaps the Serena saga has a sting in the tail. Williams is box office when it comes to New York, but drama also tends to be part of the package. Those with long memories will recall her high-profile meltdowns amid the rowdy atmosphere of the Arthur Ashe arena on women’s final night. In 2009 she handed Kim Clijsters the title by default with an outburst towards a line judge who called her for a second-serve foot fault which brought up match point. Then, two years later she launched a tirade against umpire Eva Asderaki, accusing her of being a “hater” after being called for a code violation in her straight-sets final defeat to Sam Stosur for yelling “Come on” when a point was still in play.
So all hope is not yet lost for the rest of the field. The younger Williams sister displays greater maturity and focus, but she is still susceptible to a shock or two. Her victory at Roland Garros saw her drop five sets in seven rounds of tennis, while Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic inflicted only her second defeat in the calendar year of 2015 at the Rogers Cup.
This year’s US Open draw only magnifies the chance of an upset to the natural order of things. In addition to the potential early challenge of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Serena could have to overcome countrywomen Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys in the third and fourth rounds respectively, with Bencic, her older sister Venus and Maria Sharapova also potentially on a collision course before the final. The supporting cast of contenders also includes Garbine Muguruza, Lucie Safarova, Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep.
John McEnroe, the 56-year-old ESPN pundit who recently said he felt he could “take her” in a one-off match, said that it wasn’t meant as an insult.
“To me she’s the greatest female player that has ever played,” said McEnroe. “She’s better in every way now [than she was at 26]. She’s more prepared. She used to not get as prepared because she figured she was so much better that she didn’t have to be on her toes and be mentally focused.
“Athletically, you have to put her, Venus and Steffi Graf as the greatest athletes that ever played tennis. So she’s got a big edge there. Then mentally she’s always been exceptionally strong.
“To me, if she brings her A game, she’s going to win this. And she has shown that even when she’s feeling some pressure and not playing her best, she still figures out a way to win.”
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