Serena Williams ahead of Lexington launch: "I don't have full lung capacity, I'm not sure what would happen to me"
Serena Williams will start at the WTA International event next week - and was extremely cautious about COVID-19 before the start.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Aug 09, 2020, 01:30 pm
She was "a bit neurotic", Serena Williams admitted - but caution was the top priority for her and everyone "in the Serena bubble".
"I have around 50 masks that I travel with, I just don't want to be without one," said the 38-year-old in a virtual press conference before the start of the tournament in Lexington . So she is "incredibly careful in everything she is currently doing".
The extra-serious background at Williams: "I no longer have full lung capacity. So I'm not sure what would happen to me. I think I could handle it, but I don't want to find out." Williams had a pulmonary embolism in 2011, had an operation and had a blood clot removed.
Williams and his own tennis court: "Why not 20 years ago?"
Some time ago, pictures of their own court appeared online that their own fitness studio was "not quite finished". But the place is "so much fun" and she sometimes asks herself: "Why didn't I do it 20 years ago?" She also had a training partner, after all, the US Open surface was raised. "Tennis is by nature a sport with social distance, so it was easy: I took my side, my hitting partner the other."
And as far as the muscles are concerned, she didn't lose anything during the break, even if she normally would of course have gone to the gym. But she didn't have to bench press, "that's god given, thanks to my mum," she said with a laugh and gave her biceps a kiss.
The plan for the summer: Yes, she would like to play everything, including the European tour "when it takes place". Because that's what she has learned in the last few months: not to look too far ahead.
Lexington Draw: Sister Venus or Azarenka in Round 2?
In Lexington (total prize money: 225,500 US dollars) Williams is top ranked, ahead of Aryna Sabalenka, Johanna Konta and Amanda Anisimova.
In round 1, she meets compatriot Bernarda Pera, after which it could already be a great duel: against sister Venus or Victoria Azarenka, who also play at the beginning.