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Tag: Serena Williams

  • Serena withdraws from U.S. Open due to torn hamstring

    Serena withdraws from U.S. Open due to torn hamstring

    Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week’s U.S. Open due to her torn hamstring that has not completely healed ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year, the American said on Wednesday.

    Williams, a six-times winner at Flushing Meadows, has had an injury-marred season and limped out of her first-round match at Wimbledon in tears due to the leg injury.

    The 39-year-old, who has been hunting for an elusive 24th major, skipped the Olympics in Tokyo and opted out of the Cincinnati Masters.

    “After careful consideration and following the advice of my doctors and medical team, I have decided to withdraw from the U.S. Open.

    “This is to allow my body to heal completely from a torn hamstring,” Williams wrote in a statement on Instagram.

    “New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favourite places to play — I’ll miss seeing the fans but will be cheering everyone from afar.”

    Williams is the latest big name to pull out of the tournament after reigning men’s champion, Dominic Thiem, and four-times winner Rafa Nadal, ended their 2021 season due to injuries.

    The main draw of the U.S. Open gets underway in New York on Monday.

  • Serena out of French Open after losing to Rybakina

    Serena out of French Open after losing to Rybakina

    Serena Williams’ quest for a 24th grand slam singles title goes on after a fourth-round defeat by Elena Rybakina at the French Open.

    Having come into the tournament with low expectations, Williams had looked solid through her first three matches.

    With big names falling by the wayside, the American surged up the list of title favourites.

    She went into the match against her 21-year-old Kazakh opponent as the only top-20 player left in the bottom half.

    But an unexpected finalist is now guaranteed after Williams fell to a 3-6 5-7 defeat.

    Rybakina was not born when Williams made her debut at Roland Garros but a brilliant start to 2020 marked her out as a potential major challenger.

    She has not shown the same form this season, and this was her first time through to the last 16 at a slam.

    But she played a calm and controlled match on the biggest stage of her life.

    Rybakina’s big serve and powerful forehand frequently proved too much for Williams, who did not play badly but lacked precision at important moments.

    Rybakina moved ahead early, breaking to lead 3-1.

    Although Williams responded with a break back for 3-4, she dropped serve again straight away and the young Kazakh clinched the set on her fourth chance.

    The second set followed a similar pattern, with Williams staying in touch with Rybakina but vulnerable every time her opponent found her hitting zone.

    A final break for 6-5 proved the key —- Rybakina appearing nerveless as she converted her first match-point.

    Williams can at least take a good week of match practice into Wimbledon, which is surely her best chance of finally claiming that elusive 24th.

  • Williams returns to Australia looking for 24th grand slam title

    Williams returns to Australia looking for 24th grand slam title

    Serena Williams has had plenty of time to reflect on her quest for a record equaling 24th Grand Slam title while being quarantined in five-star comfort for two weeks ahead of the Australian Open.

    Stuck on number 23 for four years, Williams has brushed off failures and near misses at matching Margaret Court’s mark with the self-assurance of someone convinced her time will come.

    But time is running out for the 39-year-old American to reach the career milestone that has become one of the sport’s longest running story-lines.

    So it will be again when play begins on Monday at Melbourne Park.

    “It’s good to always have goals that you try to reach and kind of see what happens,” said Williams, who ended her 14-day COVID-19 quarantine with an exhibition match against Naomi Osaka followed by a visit to the zoo with three-year-old daughter Olympia.

    Australia has long been a happy place for Williams with seven of her 23 major titles coming at Melbourne Park, including her last in 2017 when she beat sister Venus in the final and later announced she was pregnant.

    The ensuing years on court, however, have been barren and turbulent.

    The winner of 73 career titles, only once in the last four years — a lower level Australian Open tuneup event in 2020 — has Williams celebrated a win.

    Four times — twice at both Wimbledon and U.S. Open — Williams has come agonizingly close to that 24th Slam, only to be denied at the final hurdle.

    At the All-England Club in 2018 she was dismissed 6-3 6-3 by Angelique Kerber and a year later humbled 6-2 6-2 by Simona Halep.

    There were very similar unhappy endings at Flushing Meadows where the woman many consider the greatest of all-time was unceremoniously dispatched by two up-and-comers; Japan’s Osaka and Canada’s Bianca Andreescu, who celebrated their first Grand Slam at Williams’s expense.

    Williams was left in rage and tears at the 2018 U.S. Open during an ill-tempered final won by Osaka 6-2 6-4.

    The following year it was Andreescu, playing in the U.S. Open main draw for the first time, delivering the disappointment with a 6-3 7-5 victory.

    Williams’s downward spiral accelerated last season.

    Her best result was a semi-final appearance at the U.S. Open with a third round exit in Australia and a second round loss at the French Open.

    “It’s really not about 24 or 23 or 25 it’s really just about going out there and giving my best effort no matter what,” said Williams ahead of the 2019 Wimbledon final. “I feel like I have things to lose but I also have nothing to lose, it’s like I am in the middle.”

  • Serena Williams crashes out of Lexington semi-final, loses to World No 116

    Serena Williams crashes out of Lexington semi-final, loses to World No 116

    Serena Williams on Friday crashed out of the Lexington Top Seed Open in Kentucky, surprisingly beaten by 116th ranked American Shelby Rogers in the quarter-finals.

    Williams – the top seed and 23-time grand slam champion – was ousted 1-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) by Rogers.

    Stepping up her preparation ahead of this month’s US Open in New York, Williams overcame sister Venus in the last 16 on Thursday but the 38-year-old star was unable to continue her run at the WTA International event.

    Rogers – in her first meeting against Serena Williams – rallied from a set down in the all-American affair to earn a semi-final showdown with Jil Teichmann, who accounted for Cici Bellis 6-2 6-4.

    “It was important for me going onto the court thinking I could win that match, and knowing I could take care of my service games,” Rogers said.

    “Because [Williams] has probably the best serve of all time, and when she wants to, she can win a point on her serve.”

    Teenage sensation Coco Gauff, meanwhile, fought back from a set and a break down to top eighth seed Ons Jabeur 4-6 6-4 6-1.

    Gauff trailed 6-4 4-2 but the 16-year-old American completed a thrilling comeback to reach her second WTA semi-final.

    Awaiting Gauff in the semi-final is countrywoman Jennifer Brady, who eased past Marie Bouzkova 6-1 6-2.

  • Serena Williams beats sister Venus to reach Lexington Open quarter-finals

    Serena Williams beats sister Venus to reach Lexington Open quarter-finals

    Serena Williams survived another scare to beat older sister Venus 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Thursday in the latest instalment of their reluctant on-court sibling rivalry.

    The win helped her to reach the quarter-finals of the inaugural Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky.

    Serena, who in her first-round match of the spectator-free tournament was five points from defeat against world number 60 Bernarda Pera, however had much work to do to survive.

    She had to rally back from a set down and 4-2 final set deficit to prevail in a thrilling battle.

    With the win, Serena improved to 19-12 in career head-to-head meetings with Venus.

    “It was a very high quality match,” said Serena.

    “There was a lot of long points, running me around and then at one point it was just big serves and so I thought that was really interesting as we both started serving really well and returning well.”

    Top-seeded Serena was locked in early in the final set as she earned a quick break to go ahead 2-1.

    Thereafter, Venus grabbed momentum by taking the next three games and moved closer to her first victory over her sister since 2018 at Indian Wells.

    But Serena found her way back and eventually used a fierce backhand winner to get to 5-4 before going on to serve out the match on her first match point.

    Serena made a fast start to the match and had break point chances for a 3-0 double break lead.

    But Venus stormed back with a five-game win streak and then closed out the opening set with a powerful serve.

    In the second set, Serena broke Venus with an inside-out backhand winner to pull ahead 4-2 and then closed out the frame with ease to force the decider.

    Serena will face either Canadian qualifier Leylah Fernandez or American wildcard Shelby Rogers in the next round.

    The suspension of tennis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic meant that, until this week, Serena had not competed on the tour since February.

    As a result, the American said rather than focussing on winning the Top Seed Open, she wants to make sure she gets into top form for the Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 U.S. Open.

    “I’m just here to play another match just to get match tough for New York,” said Serena, who has failed to add to her haul of 23 Grand Slam titles since January 2017.

    “I’ve done absolutely nothing but train and practise and so I am really low on the matches and so this is really helping.”

  • Naomi Osaka displaces rival, Serena Williams, emerges world’s highest-paid female athlete

    Naomi Osaka displaces rival, Serena Williams, emerges world’s highest-paid female athlete

    Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka has displaced US rival Serena Williams to become the world’s highest-paid female athlete.

    According to Forbes magazine, Osaka, 22, a two-time Grand Slam champion, made £30.7m in prize money and endorsements over the past 12 months.

    That was £1.15m more than the amount earned by 38-year-old Serena Williams.

    Both shattered the previous single-year earnings record of £24.4m set in 2015 by Russia’s Maria Sharapova.

    Since Forbes began tracking women athletes’ income in 1990, tennis players have topped the annual list every year.

    Osaka, whose father was born in Haiti and whose mother is Japanese, is 29th on the 2020 Forbes list of the world’s 100 top-paid athletes, four spots ahead of Williams, the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

    The complete Forbes list, due to be released next week, has not featured two women since 2016, the magazine says.

  • Serena Williams stunned by China Wang Qian

    Serena Williams stunned by China Wang Qian

    Serena Williams’ bid for the eighth Australian Open title and record equalling 24th Grand slam title came to an abrupt end in Melbourne Friday when she was sensationally knocked out by China’s 27th ranked Wang Qiang.

    Williams, 38, was the bookies’ favourite to win an eighth title at Melbourne Park but she came unstuck against a determined Wang, who took only one game off the American last time they met.

    The 6-4, 6/7 (2/7), 7-5 upset means Williams, whose last Major win was at the 2017 Australian Open when she was pregnant, has fallen short at eight Grand Slams since returning from having a baby in 2018.

    “I think my team always believed I can do it,” said 27th seed Wang, who lost 6-1, 6-0 to Williams in last year’s US Open quarter-finals.

    “After last time I did really hard work on and off court, I believed I could do it.”

    Her reward is a clash with Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, who upset Williams’ close friend Caroline Wozniacki, sending the Dane into retirement.

    Williams, seeded eight, started slowly against the fast, positive Wang, and she was three break points down in the ninth game when Wang punched away a forehand to grab the break.

    Serving for the set, Wang won a full-blooded rally to bring up set point and then sealed it to go one set up — a far cry from their last meeting in New York.

    Williams came out firing for the second set but her chances plunged when she was broken to go 3-2 down, and it looked all over when she let Wang off the hook on break point in the eighth.

    However, Wang wobbled when she was serving for the match and Williams won a titanic 24-shot rally to break the Chinese player for the first time, raising her arms in triumph.

    Williams staved off more break points before dominating the tie-breaker, where she benefited from another net cord and a Hawk-Eye review before levelling the match with a service winner.

    In the tense final set, both players held firm but Wang pounced when Williams was serving to stay in it, converting her third match point as the American netted.

    Wang received a torrent of criticism from Chinese fans after her capitulation to Williams in the last eight at Flushing Meadows.

    The 28-year-old from Tianjin has now achieved her deepest Australian Open run, after reaching the third round last year — a prelude to her best Major performance, at the US Open.

  • Canadian teenager, Andreescu beats off Serena Williams’ comeback to win U.S. Open

    Canadian teenager, Andreescu beats off Serena Williams’ comeback to win U.S. Open

    Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu claimed her first Grand Slam title in a hard-hitting and nerve-jangling 6-3 7-5 win over Serena Williams on Saturday.

    The win was an upset which also put the brakes on the American’s bid to equal the all-time record.

    Andreescu matched Williams’ power throughout the slugfest and kept her composure under intense pressure to fend off a late comeback from the six-times U.S. Open champion.

    The 19-year-old dropped her racket after hitting a blistering forehand return winner on match-point to seal victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium and collapsed on her back after embracing her defeated opponent.

    “It’s so hard to explain (what the win means) in words,” Andreescu said on-court.

    “I’m just beyond grateful and truly blessed. I’ve worked really, really hard for this moment and I can’t complain. This year has been a dream come true,” she added before collecting her $3.85 million winner’s cheque.

    “And now to be able to play on this stage against Serena, a true legend of the sport, is amazing.”

    Andreescu, the first Canadian to win a major in the professional era, prevented Williams from equaling Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

    Williams, who has been denied the milestone in four slam finals since claiming her last major title at the Australian Open in 2017, was gracious in defeat.

    “Bianca played an unbelievable match,” she said.

    “Congratulations, I’m so proud and happy for you. I wish I could have played better.”

    The fearless Andreescu pressured Williams from the outset, electing to receive after winning the coin toss and immediately breaking her childhood idol.

    Shouting “come on” after winning key points, Andersen’s vicious forehand kept Williams on the back foot.

    Costly errors, including a double fault on set-point in the first, put the American in an early hole.

    With her back against the wall trailing 5-1 and facing championship point, Williams mounted a spirited comeback to draw level at 5-5.

    It led to deafening roars from the packed crowd in the biggest tennis stadium in the world.

    Yet Andreescu, who covered her ears at times, regained her steely composure to cross the finish line.

  • Serena sweeps into semis, chalks up 100th U.S. Open win

    Serena Williams claimed her 100th win at the U.S. Open in style on Tuesday.

    This was after she dismantled her quarter-final opponent Wang Qiang 6-1 6-0 in a blistering 44-minute performance that ended any questions over a twisted ankle from the previous round.

    “I never thought that I would get to 100,” Williams said after the match, reflecting on the two decades she’s spent playing at Flushing Meadows. “It’s so special. I never want to let it go.”

    The eighth-seeded American joins Chris Evert as the only two players to log at least 100 victories at the tournament. Williams is now only one behind Evert’s mark.

    The 37-year-old Williams was dominant from the start, firing off 25 winners, compared to zero from 18th-seed Wang, and winning 90% of her first serve points.

    During her fourth-round match on Sunday, Williams slipped and fell while running to the net and twisted her right ankle but said on Tuesday she was feeling “great”.

    “It feels good,” Williams said of her performance. “This is how hard I’ve been working. It feels like … hard work pays off when that happens.”

    Williams pumped her fist in celebration after firing off a forehand winner in front of a roaring crowd to end the contest.

    “I am who I am. I’ve always been the person that goes out there and roars and screams and complains and cries and fights,” Williams said.

    “I’m extremely passionate about what I do. Most people that love their jobs are passionate about what they do. That’s just me.”

    She also praised the progress made in women’s tennis over her career, calling it the “premier sport for women”.

    “It’s the best work in the world that a woman can do, in my mind. I’m a little biased obviously,” said the 37-year-old.

    “I feel like we fought so hard for so many years for so many different things. I feel like we still obviously have a ways to go, but a lot of that fighting through decades has come through.”

    Wang, who had not faced Williams before, was unable to save any of the five break point opportunities against her and said she simply could not stand up to the power from the 23-times Grand Slam champion.

    “I cannot handle it. Just too much for me,” said Wang.

    Williams faces fifth-seed Elina Svitolina, who she leads 4-1 in head-to-head, in the semi-finals.

    “She doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” said Williams when asked about the upcoming matchup. “She’s one of those players that does everything really well.

    “So I have to do everything well, too.”

  • Halep stuns Serena to win Wimbledon title

    Serena Williams’ wait for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title goes on after Simona Halep stunned the off-key American 6-2 6-2 in a one-sided Wimbledon final match on Saturday.
    An inspired Halep took full advantage of an error-strewn display by seven-times champion Williams to become the first Romanian to win the Wimbledon title.
    The 27-year-old Halep broke serve in the opening game and raced into a 4-0 lead.
    She remained rock solid throughout and Williams simply could not respond.
    There were signs that Williams was finding her range in the second set but Halep was undaunted and reeled off the last five games.
    The contest ended after Williams buried a forehand into the net after 56 minutes.
    It is the second year running that Williams arrived in the final seeking to match Margaret Court’s record 24 singles majors.
    Last year she failed to get a set against Angelique Kerber.
    She then went on to lose the U.S. Open final match.