WTA Auckland: For Serena Williams, there is a circle
Serena Williams first played at the WTA tournament in Auckland: in 2017, when she was already pregnant with her daughter Olympia. Now the 23-time major winner has returned to New Zealand.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Jan 06, 2020, 03:53 pm
Julia Görges is the defending champion in the WTA tournament in Auckland, but the greatest attention is paid to two other women. First of all Caroline Wozniacki , who will contest her penultimate professional event. After the Australian Open, the Danish will definitely be over. However, most eyes will be on Serena Williams, who has only come to Auckland for the second time.
The very first impression of 2017, when Serena lost against compatriot Madison Brengle in round two, has by no means faded. Although there are very big differences from the premiere three years ago. "First of all, I'm not pregnant, it can only go well for me," Williams joked at her press conference before the tournament started. A few weeks after Auckland she had been a successful mother at the Australian Open. Serena's last Grand Slam victory so far.
Serena Wiiliams with strange memories
"I'm really in a completely different mental state," Williams continued. “It's just surreal and crazy when you look back. I have all these weird memories that I was constantly sick in the first trimester of my pregnancy. But now we're joking about it. And I'm happy that I'm here. ”Not unaffected by the Australian bushfires, as coach Patrick Mouratoglou posted on Twitter.
Serena Williams is number one in Auckland ahead of Petra Martic and Amanda Anisimova. Right at the start there is a meeting for Williams with Camila Giorgi, who worked her way through the qualification. Julia Görges either opened against Belgian Greet Minnen. In any case, Serena has already had a successful start in doubles: Williams defeated Nao Hibino and Makoto Ninomiya 6: 2 and 6: 4 alongside Caroline Wozniacki.