LONDON: Serena Williams sent a warning to her Wimbledon title rivals as the world number one completed her preparations for the grasscourt Grand Slam in a feisty mood.
With Wimbledon set to get under way today, Williams made an appearance at the All England Club’s pre-tournament press conferences on Saturday, but it quickly became clear the American had no time for small talk.
The 32-year-old cut a grumpy figure for much of her brief session with the media, issuing short answers to many questions and showing little of her usually effervescent personality.
Williams has been mired in something of a slump of late following surprise exits from both the Australian and French Opens.
Although she has won titles in Brisbane, Miami and Rome, the five-time Wimbledon champion has also suffered underwhelming losses to the likes of Petra Kvitova, Jana Cepelova, Ana Ivanovic and Alize Cornet.
Serena’s struggles have prompted some to suggest she is finally in decline.
But those chastening defeats have only strengthened her desire to make amends in south-west London and few would bet against the ferociously competitive American adding a sixth Wimbledon singles title to her glittering CV by the time the women’s tournament comes to a conclusion on July 5.
Should the top seed move one title ahead of her sister and fellow five-time Wimbledon winner Venus, Serena might well label the defeat against Garbine Muguruza at Roland Garros as the turning point.
Asked on Saturday how quickly she had managed to put the French Open loss behind her, Serena gave a curt response that suggested she plans to get her revenge on the rest of the draw at Wimbledon.
“Who says I’m over it?” she said with a smirk. Yeah, I doubt it. Knowing me, no.” With Marion Bartoli now retired following her maiden Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon 12 months ago, this will be the first time since Steffi Graf in 1997 that the reigning women’s champion hasn’t returned to defend her crown.
In Bartoli’s absence, it is the fired-up Serena who most expect to carry off the Venus Rosewater dish awarded to the female champion and the 29-year-old Frenchwoman agrees with that verdict.
“I very highly favour Serena for it. Not only as she has won so many times but it is a surface that suits her game so beautifully,” Bartoli said.
“When you saw her winning at the Olympic Games, the way she played, the way she beat everyone.
“She destroyed Maria Sharapova in the final and I don’t think all those young players will be able to challenge her.”
Sharapova, fresh from winning the French Open for the second time, is seen as the biggest threat to Serena and they are scheduled to meet in the last eight.AFP
