Associated Press Published 10:04 p.m. UTC Jun 1, 2018 Paris — After playing so infrequently, it’s as if Serena Williams is starting from scratch. Sure looked that way for a bit more than a half-hour in the French Open’s second round on Thursday, when she dealt with muscle soreness, a lack of verve and a bunch of mistakes. So many mistakes. And then, suddenly, after unleashing one particularly powerful backhand return winner that she punctuated with a shout, Williams was back. She was animated. Determined. Dominant, even. Shaking off some rust in her first Grand Slam tournament since giving birth nine months ago, Williams recalibrated her shots and erased a deficit of a set and a break to beat 17th-seeded Ashleigh Barty of Australia 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that ended shortly before dusk. “I lost the first set, and I thought, ‘I’ve got to try harder. I’ve got to just try harder,’ she told the crowd afterward. “And Serena … [Read more...] about Serena Williams advances to third round at French Open
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Give Serena Williams time to find top form, says Clijsters
By Simon Cambers PARIS (Reuters) – Former world number one Kim Clijsters believes Serena Williams will get back to the top, but warned it may take time for her to regain full strength after childbirth. Williams will play her first Grand Slam for more than 15 months at the French Open after having her daughter, Alexis Olympia. She has played just two events since she first returned to the Tour in March. “Pregnancy is very hard to (come back from),” Clijsters told Reuters in an interview. “Everything is a lot looser, it takes time to get that back to where it once was. “I remember doing an interview when Serena was pregnant and people were asking me constantly, do you think she can do it? My thing was, you don’t know how your body will react, how you will react emotionally. “I admire both Serena and Venus because they have a perseverance that is incredible. They’re able to do a lot of things that other people can’t do, physically and … [Read more...] about Give Serena Williams time to find top form, says Clijsters
French Open organizers won’t give Serena Williams a seeding
Andrew Dampf and Samuel Petrequin, Ap Sports Writers Updated 8:22 am, Tuesday, May 22, 2018 PARIS (AP) — Serena Williams' return to Grand Slam tennis from maternity leave just got even tougher. French Open organizers announced on Monday they will not give Williams a seeding. "This year again, tournament officials will establish the list and ranking of the women's seeds based on the WTA ranking," the French Tennis Federation said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Consequently, (the seeds) will reflect this week's world ranking." Williams, a three-time French Open champion, is expected to play in her first major since giving birth to her daughter in September. While Williams can enter Roland Garros under the WTA's protected or "special" ranking rule, it's up to Grand Slam organizers to give her a seed. While she was No. 1 when she left the tour to give birth, Williams is currently ranked No. 453. Without a seeding, the 23-time Grand Slam champion risks facing highly … [Read more...] about French Open organizers won’t give Serena Williams a seeding
Serena Williams coach confident she’ll play the French Open
PARIS (Reuters) – Serena Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou said he was confident that the 23-time grand slam singles champion would take part in the French Open this month. The 36-year-old Williams, who has not played on clay this season, withdrew from the Madrid and Rome tournaments because she was not ready to compete. “Serena will play the French Open to win it. Can she do it? Serena can achieve anything – after being her coach for six years, I’m even more sure of that statement,” Mouratoglou said in an interview with tour organizers WTA on Monday. The Frenchman, however, admitted she returned too soon after her pregnancy, which resulted in early exits in Indian Wells and Miami in March. “After her pregnancy, Serena had to rebuild her body. When she arrived at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, around April 30, we realised that she was not ready yet,” said Mouratoglou. “The time she lost after the delivery, with all the medical … [Read more...] about Serena Williams coach confident she’ll play the French Open
Serena Williams opens up about childbirth, her relationships, and journey to return to the court
On a gray, gloomy Wednesday in Manhattan, Serena Williams was swaddled in bath towels to stay warm in an air-conditioned corner suite on the 41st floor of the Lotte New York Palace Hotel. The room’s normally panoramic view had been obscured by dense fog, making it a challenge to see even across the street. That seemed an apt metaphor for Williams’ tennis career as she comes back from maternity leave at age 36. It remains unclear whether she will be able to return to dominance. As she heads to Europe to start her clay-court season, she has played in only two tournaments in 2018, winning two matches and losing two and struggling, understandably, to regain full fitness. But her personal life is a much clearer, blue sky matter. She is newly married to Alexis Ohanian, the internet entrepreneur and co-founder of Reddit, and is embracing the challenges of motherhood with their 8-month-old daughter, Olympia. “We haven’t been apart from each other more than 24 hours, … [Read more...] about Serena Williams opens up about childbirth, her relationships, and journey to return to the court