“Everyone’s like, ‘Why are you still playing?”
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Williams faced off against fellow American Vania King. “So, yeah, that’s what I think of her”.
Never one to shy away from non-tennis interests, Williams recently appeared in one of Beyonce’s music videos and introduced a performance by her at the MTV Video Music Awards in Manhattan on Sunday night.
Serena Williams reflected on a “cool milestone” after equalling Martina Navratilova’s Open-era record for grand slam women’s singles wins. “I’ve had some ups and downs this year but you know.I always just try to come back and do the best that I can”, she added.
The American was not at her best but still proved too strong for King, the world number 87, comfortably progressing with a 6-3, 6-3 success under the roof at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It’s stable, I just got to keep it like that”, Williams said of her right shoulder. Williams secured the 6-3, 6-3 win with a forehand victor.
Only Roger Federer, with 307, has won more Grand Slam matches than Williams in the Open era, which dates to 1968.
Williams, who released a new video Thursday on YouTube that features the 34-year-old dancing in a variety of styles, says dance is one of her favorite hobbies. “I definitely don’t think I played the way I did in my first round”.
The elder Williams sister will next play 26th seed Laura Siegemund of Germany. Tennis players do pick up the sound of the ball to read the spins a little bit earlier and the speed of the serve, so it makes it tricky.
Williams, the U.S. Open victor of 2000 and 2001, was runner-up to top seed Martina Hingis as an unseeded player in the inaugural year of Ashe Stadium and 19 years later finished the first U.S. Open day session played entirely under a roof.
“But I had the chance to warm up in the morning before the match”. Had a nice feeling.
Halep will play either Hungary’s Timea Babos or Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands in the third round.
Also advancing to the third round is Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Briton Naomi Broady 7-6 (11-9) 6-3.
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The final third of the commercial ends on a high note, the piano returns to its uplifting and melodic form and the final frames include a pan of Williams’ face with the words “greatest female athlete ever”.
