But, as Williams is trying to protect her No. 1 ranking and chase an Open era record 23rd grand slam title, the final tennis major of 2016 could also provide the ideal setting for a new generation of American players eager to be cast as her potential successor.
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There was talk of a changing of the guard when the legendary American lost the Australian Open and French Open titles this year, but she responded by matching Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22 major singles crowns at Wimbledon in July.
How much the shoulder injury affects the 34-year-old’s game remains to be seen but she has enjoyed the benefit of rest, after avoiding lengthy excursions in either Brazil or Cincinnati.
Williams admits she is anxious by her lack of time on the court in recent weeks but has vowed to do all she can in order to taste success in the Big Apple.
“I have not played a lot, I haven’t practiced a lot, but I’m just now starting to feel a little better”. “I just went for more placement”.
But that hasn’t dented his confidence that he can claim a second US Open, four years after his breakthrough in NY saw him become the first British man in 76 years to win a Grand Slam title.
“You have to make the most of every opportunity”. That’s all I can do now. “I have not played a lot and practiced a lot”.
“I am in a position, like everybody else, like all of you, we all have private issues and things that are more challenges than issues”, he said after drawing Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz in the first round of the American Grand Slam.
Williams could face fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the semis, which is also when she could potentially meet sister Venus.
A straight-sets win over Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final may have eased some of the pressure Williams was feeling, but it’s been far from smooth sailing since. She’s a big fighter.
“I knew today I needed to be focused because I’ve played her”.
“But then there’s also a distinct argument that Djokovic is the greatest player of all time if he gets back to the streak he was on”.
She has an equally tough start to this year’s event when she faces Ekaterina Makarova of Russian Federation, the world number 36, on Tuesday. Nadal has won just one grand slam title since – the 2014 French Open.
For Williams, it’s a sore right shoulder that she revealed started bothering her nearly immediately after her Wimbledon victory. As she enters the US Open, Williams is the hot favourite and thus poised to make history by going one up on Graf’s Open Era record. Williams acknowledges she measures herself constantly.
In 2015, Williams arrived at the U.S. Open having won four consecutive major titles for a self-styled “Serena Slam”.
‘There are a couple of players that if they do really well and whatever the situations are, they can reach No 1.
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“He says it just happened training before the Olympics and I’d heard nothing about a wrist problem before that. I am taking it a day at a time”.
