Title in four decades: Serena Williams, the tireless
Serena Williams is back as the tournament winner on the WTA tour. The triumph in Auckland was the first of the 23-time Grand Slam winner since 2017. And the first as a mother.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jan 12, 2020, 05:56 pm
When Richard Williams announced at the turn of the year 1999 in flowery words that his daughter Serena would “turn the world of women's tennis upside down” and become “the best ever”, many in the scene gave the coaching father an indulgent smile. Could the younger of his self-proclaimed “Cinderellas from the Ghetto” become even better than Venus Williams, the super athlete, the long-successful title hunter? The pithy words of the former parking lot and night watchman were taken for the usual marketing frenzy, for prank beating. But on February 28, 1999 Serena suddenly won her first title, in Paris, against a top opponent, against local hero Amelie Mauresmo. Then three weeks later the next coup, a final success at the game of millions in Indian Wells against legend Steffi Graf. Later that year, teenager Williams even played on a grand slam throne, winning at the US Open against Martina Hingis, then number one in the WTA rankings.
Mauresmo, Graf, Hingis: They have all been retired long ago. Like Mauresmo and Hingis, they have long since had second or third career starts, tried as trainers, have become mothers. Or, like Graf, you are eternally far away from the tennis business for an eternity, as a totally distant observer. Williams, however, is still there. Strictly speaking: It has appeared again and again over the past 21 years, it has put through all sorts of setbacks, health problems, crises in the family and in private life. Also sporting challenges, such as the appearance of new, ambitious young players who made her career difficult.
Serena a "crazy long time on the road"
"It's been a crazy long time now," Williams said on Sunday, January 12, 2020. The day she won her 74th title in Auckland (6-3, 6-4 against compatriot Jessica Pegula) won, a far from normal title. It was the first title since she was traveling as a mother in the traveling circus, after five previously lost finals. And it was the title that documented their tirelessness on the worldwide center courts like no other for the time being, the first title in the 1920s - after cup wins in the 1990s and successes in the first two decades of the 21st century. "I'm very, very happy now," said Williams. Williams coach Patrick Mouratoglou said he was not necessarily proud of the title himself, but of the tenacity, the inexhaustible will to fight, which is expressed in the victory. "It is simply unique, a phenomenon," said Mouratoglou.
The last two years, the years after the birth of daughter Olympia, were characterized by turbulence and disappointments. On the hunt for the 24th Grand Slam title - and thus setting the all-time record of the Australian Margaret Court-Smith - Williams failed in four Grand Slam finals, twice in Wimbledon and at the US Open. The blackout at the 2018 New York final of the season, the scandal night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, in which a deduction of points for the freaking American led to the victory of the young Japanese girl Naomi Osaka remained unforgettable. A year later, last fall, Williams lost bitterly to 19-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu , again her nerves played a trick, but only in the role of the inhibited, hesitant favorite. Just like in the Wimbledon finals against Angelique Kerber (2018) and Simona Halep (2019)
Favorite bet for the Australian Open
But for Williams, the motto still applies: keep going, keep going. Again, at the age of 38, she plunged into the toughness of preparing for the season. In between she was even spotted boxing with ex-world champion Mike Tyson. "If you want to survive against players who could be your daughters, you can't compromise," said Williams when she arrived in Auckland, New Zealand for her first season, more than two decades after entering professional life. Williams dominated the tournament, against the younger and very young who faced her on the other side of the net, and is now the betting favorite for the Australian Open in Melbourne. There, on the Yarra River, she also won her last Grand Slam title three years ago, when she was already eight weeks pregnant. Will Mama be the best again at one of the most precious tournaments in the world, at Grand Slam level? "My dream is alive," says Williams.