Thats what Serena Williams said after her semifinal victory at Wimbledon when asked what it would mean for her to match Steffi Grafs record of 22 Grand Slam championships in the Open era.
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The pair won 6-3 6-4 against Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova to claim their sixth Wimbledon doubles title and 14th doubles Grand Slam.
Yet by Wimbledon, and by Saturday, she had restored her air of invulnerability, even against the all-grown-up Grand Slam mentality of Kerber, and largely because she had the one component that mattered most: her serve. She faced only one break point – the only one she faced in the last three rounds – in the seventh game of the second set.
Having avenged her shock loss against Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, Williams was wreathed in smiles as she paraded the Venus Rosewater Dish around Centre Court after collecting a cheque for 2 million (2.5 million, 2.3 million euros). They beat fifth-seeded Timea Babos of Hungary and Yaroslava Shvedova of Russian Federation 6-3, 6-4.
The 71st singles title of Williams’ astonishing career also moved her within two of Martina Navratilova’s all-time record of nine Wimbledon triumphs. “But it makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked for it”.
“It’s unbelievable”, said Serena.
After suffering a dip in form earlier this year, Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou told her she was back to her best at the French Open and the message finally sunk in at Wimbledon.
The Williams sisters now have a remarkable 14-0 record when playing doubles together in Grand Slam finals.
In an interview with the BBC, U.S. former tennis player Billie Jean King exhorted Williams to prove she is the greatest women’s player of all-time.
It was also a great day for Venus, who had failed to secure a Wimbledon final against sister Serena after suffering a semi-final defeat to Kerber on Thursday.
Before Williams hired him, following a first round loss at the 2012 French Open, she had been going through a lean spell having drawn a blank at the majors for nearly two years.
She took the first set 7-5.
“That is something that I think is of great concern because it will be devastating”.
As for time, which remains undefeated against all athletes, Williams, 34, said that she and 36-year-old Venus had as long left as they wanted. “I really enjoyed the final today and it was a great atmosphere out there and I will never forget the feeling”.
“I think this is the most important thing for me, to handle this, find the way how to do everything”.
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Williams is trying to win her 22nd major title, and seventh at Wimbledon. Obviously I’m looking forward to getting back to Australia, it’s one of my favorite places to go. I missed the moment. I felt I can do better, not only I can do this but I am going to do this and there is nothing in this world that is going to stop me’.
