Similarly, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga secured a straight-sets victory over Inigo Cervantes.
Advertisement
But her hopes of going level with Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 has stalled since that day.
The 34-year-old six- time champion battled to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic, ranked at 148 in the world. She is living multiple dilemmas.
Elsewhere at Wimbledon, Serena Williams and her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, did not want to talk about Williams’ pursuit of her 22nd major singles.
Up next for Williams is Christina McHale, who is ranked No. 65 in the world. It’s unfair, but Williams’ failures in finals are magnified by their historic significance. But she’s on Graf like a backpack, so the shortfalls are epic.
That set up a second-round match against Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion who beat Stephane Robert of France 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 in the big-hitting Argentine’s first appearance at Wimbledon since 2013 after a series on surgeries on his left wrist.
“I got here, I think, on Monday”.
And if you think pressure might prevent her from winning, think again.
“I guess that’s where experience sets in”, Williams said.
“Quite happy with the way I’m playing so far”, Wawrinka told reporters via the tournament’s official website. But I’ve been pretty low. “There’s nothing that’s not too mentally hard for me”. Venus Williams is also looking to make a return to the final at Wimbledon. They have their reasons, even if they tend to go light on the age-related factors or the quality of some of Williams’ opponents. “It feels really good”, Williams said. Serena won 79 percent (26 for 33) of point on first serves, dropping her own serve just once and breaking four times. She’s still getting to finals.
Afterwards she seemed to admit she could be feeling more energised, but no more than that.
“She’s done a lot for the game, she’s a great player but as we get older it gets tougher and she’s been around for 16-17 years and you’re going to have your ups and downs but I look at Wimbledon and she’s going to be right there”.
Serena Williams is a very aggressive player of the tennis and she is very experienced in this game. After the video replay showed the ball hit the back of the line, Williams grinned and threw up her arms in triumph. The victory marked her 80th win at Wimbledon as she aims for a seventh career title at the All England Club.
“I never underestimate anyone”, Williams said on the BBC of Sadikovic.
Asked if she has found out anything about Sadikovic, she said: “Not yet”. When Serena got back to the Top 5 in the world in 2008, somehow it was the first time she had been there in five years. “You just have to live in the moment, and when it’s over, it’s over”. I started fast, and that’s about it. Repeated failures tend to raise repeated questions.
But do not be fooled by the fact she is the oldest woman in the main singles draw: Williams affected that same ponderous movement during her first visit here in 1997. What does she need to do to accomplish that?
Advertisement
“I felt I was where I needed to be”, Williams said. “It was a really good match but I don’t think it was tougher than I thought”.
