by Fago Franklin
What more can we say about Serena Williams after she dominated Maria Sharapova for her19th Grand Slam? She was in “tunnel vision” point after point. Maria had no answer for her back handed served and struggled to make Serena flustered.
In the end I was able to come through. I also have to congratulate Maria who really pushed me tonight. She gave us a great final. “Growing up I wasn’t the richest, but I had a rich family in spirit. Standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen. I went on a court just with a ball and a racket and with a hope.” Thirty years after she won her third Australian Open, Martina Navratilova was on hand applauding Williams for her success.
Serena wanted this more than anything; with this win Serena is closing in on Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Steffi Graf’s who had eclipsed 22 grand slams titles or more.
“It is definitely something that motivates me,” Williams said. “I never thought I would be sitting and having this discussion. I just had a dream, a racquet, two wonderful parents, and a support system that really helped me through it.
“A part of me feels like I have a chance to really create history, while another part of me feels like ‘wow, I’ve done so much’. I don’t think about it too much. I think if I do, I’ll be very happy with myself. I want to play next week, next month, and next year.”
While Serena is dominating on the tennis court others wanted to know what is next for the 33 year old. “Rio’s always been a goal for me,” Williams said. (NY Times)
Questions and concerns have been asked about Williams’ health; after her victory over Maria Williams was spotted throwing up and looked very ill.
“I was just very sick, and that’s what is was,” Williams said. “It’s really difficult for someone to tell me to stop. I did tell everyone in my camp after that situation if I’m sick just beat me and if you have to hold me down.”
I have a stopping issue,” she said Sunday. “I don’t have a quit button. You just can’t press control-alt-quit with me. The window will stay open. I do not know when to quit. Look here I am still playing, and I’m 33 years old.” (NY Times)
“I knew the first month in the season would be pretty difficult and then you know after this it will be pretty easy,” Williams said. “I go to Dubai, then I have several weeks off and I’m not playing. I’m only playing two clay court events before the French Open this year. If I can just push through this month, I’ll be fine. When you win it all seems to be easier.” (NY Times)
Williams in three shy of doing something that hasn’t been done in this era and she is building on her adrenaline, fans, and her camp to keep her motivated to keep this dream alive.
“We have to keep her motivated at the same level of motivation as she has now and keep her in shape,” her coach Patrick Mouratoglou said when asked about Williams’s matching Graf. “If she does that and she plays long enough, she will. She gets better each time she gets on the court. (NY Times)
“Well, I try not to live life in hindsight,” Williams said. “I learn from my mistakes, and I try not to make them in the future. I’m not a quitter. I’ve got fans waiting for me, and I don’t like to let people down in life, and in tennis. I’ve realized that’s actually a fault of mine. I always want everyone to be happy, and I’ve always have said that. It’s just I always give 100 percent. It doesn’t matter if I’m feeling bad, I will go out there and perform.” (Huffington Post)
Both Venus and Serena have thrived off each other and it has shown when both sisters are going through adversity. They are there for each other, so what better feeling for both these athletes if they contend in Rio in 2016. It would cap off a great year for the both of them.