Women’s tennis is known for the fact that the balance of power changes quickly, at least faster than with men. One thing – or one – has not changed. Serena Williams, now 39 years old, is still one of the favorites at every Grad Slam tournament. She has won 23 major tournaments so far, one more than Steffi Graf, but also one less than Margaret Court. In her Australian homeland, of all places, Williams is now going for the record courts – after she has not had another Grand- Slam victory did more.
It was precisely in Australia that the now 39-year-old triumphed in a major for the last time. As it turned out later, Williams was already pregnant at this point, followed by the birth of her daughter and a baby break before she returned to the big stage. Even if she still does not waste any thought on a possible resignation, at least in public, she should not have too many opportunities to break the next record. In Australia she is on course for the time being, in the second round she clearly beat the Serbian Nina Stojanovic in 69 minutes 6: 3, 6: 0. She will now meet the Russian Anastasia Potapowa on Friday. The Japanese Naomi Osaka, Australian Open winner of 2019, is also on, she eliminated Caroline Garcia 6: 2, 6: 3.
As with the men, where Austria’s number one Dominic Thiem clearly eliminated the German Dominik Koepfer in three sets with 6: 4, 6: 0, 6: 2 and is now looking forward to his third-round opponent Nick Kyrgios, the favorites are also among the women in the next round. Williams is not necessarily one of them after her title-less title in recent years and her shoulder problems in the recent past, but one should not write off the American.
She herself didn’t want to give the record too much thought in advance. It was “of course in my head”, she said – but also: “It’s a different burden now because I’ve got used to it.” In addition, the shoulder complaints, which hinder her especially with her otherwise hard hits, have released some of the burden. Williams doesn’t have to, she can equalize the record – but the same applies to Rafael Nadal.
Behind the performance of the Spaniard, who, like Roger Federer, had 20 Grand Slam victories, was also a question mark before the tournament because of his back problems, but now he has eliminated them. Like the other favorites, he mastered his opening hurdle in the men’s category. That should also be a warning for Thiem. He’s getting better and better after a mixed season opener, but it doesn’t get any easier. In the third round he has to deal with the Australian Kyrgios, who has been standing in his own way for a long time on the way to his big breakthrough. But here, too, the following applies: conditions can change quickly.(art)
–
