The 34-year-old is the oldest woman to be ranked number one in the world and, with off-court interests including the fashion industry and a recent appearance in a video for pop-star Beyonce’s “Lemonade” single, critics have claimed Serena is no longer so focused on her tennis in the twilight of her glittering career.
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But is it a drought?
French Open victor and World No. 2 Garbine Muguruza, who reached the finals at Wimbledon previous year, eventually losing the title to Serena Williams, will face Camila Giorgi of Italy in the first round; Interestingly, although Muguruza, fresh off her maiden Grand Slam victory, is in significantly superior form, it is the Italian who has beat her on 2 of the 3 occasions they have played each other in the past.
But her historic bid came to stunning end in the US Open semi-finals, when she was beaten by 300-1 outsider Roberta Vinci.
I think maybe that was the days where we had more fun and we were talking about the lob [on match point], the matches, the rain, everything.
“She’s a lefty, so this is always tricky, on grass especially, like me”.
No great surprises there, however she will be desperate to avoid the curse of the breakthrough Grand Slam title over the Fortnight. The highest seed in her quarter is Venus Williams, who is seeded eighth.
History appears to be repeating itself. The Italian has been taken to three sets on both occasions she has beat Muguruza. I would say more clay or more hard because I play more. “I don’t take anything for granted”, she said.
If Carillo’s theory is correct, however, it could bode well for Williams on the grass courts of Wimbledon. Should they meet at R2 at Wimbledon this year, it will be their fourth meeting at the Championships – where the Slovak is yet to beat her.
Williams completed a second “Serena Slam” by beating Garbine Muguruza at Wimbledon a year ago to secure possession of every Slam crown.
“When she gets to 22 at Wimbledon – which I think will happen – I think she will open up about that it means the world for her to get”, Carillo said.
“But I think my style of game, if I get to be more perfectionist on that surface, more chance to play more tournaments or everything, I can play good, yeah”.
Williams continues to wrestle with the demons of a 2015 that was so unbelievable yet ended in such an unbelievably disappointing manner.
The top seed in the bottom half of the draw is obviously Garbine Muguruza, the 2015 runner-up and the 2016 French Open champion.
This could be their first match against each other since that US Open semi-final, and thus a revenge match for the American, who has been victorious on every other occasion the two have played each other.
“I was very relaxed (after Paris). It was very cool that Chris and Martina wanted to be a part of that, too”. “I’m like, “this is so weird”. “My shots are pretty aggressive, strong and deep, and I go for the shots”. There’s nothing I can do about it.
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“I just have a good feeling, that I’m playing good, I won a lot of confidence”. Now Serena comes in trying to avoid going 0 for 4 at the Slams since that win, and it’s Muguruza who looks poised to make a run at the No.1 ranking later this summer. She had won only four matches in her first five tournaments this season.
