Storyline: Serena Williams doesn’t get the credit she deserves. She’s 39-1 this year and can be the first player in 27 years to win ‘The Golden Slam.’ Written by Beth Limb, Sheffield, UK
This weekend saw the world’s #1 women’s tennis player complete her second ‘Serena Slam,’ meaning she currently holds all four Grand Slam titles.
Soon after winning her 6th career Wimbledon title Williams took to social media. She uploaded a picture with the caption: “You know what I’m thinking now….” It means she’s chasing the Calendar Year ‘Golden Slam’–something unachieved since Steffi Graf did it in 1988.
Courtesy: philstar.com
Serena Williams is 39-1 this season. That’s unprecedented domination, especially when you consider she hasn’t played all that well. She arrived late to Perth to compete in the Hopman Cup and ordered an espresso after losing the first set, 6-0, to Flavia Penetta. It was pretty obvious that she would struggle to play to her own high standards.
With a troubled technical game this year Williams has been dependent on sheer athleticism and superior mental strength to carry her through. Her mental toughness has never been more present than in this year’s Wimbledon final, where she opened her service game with three double faults and, soon after, found herself 2-4 down to Garbine Muguruza.
Williams never showed a flicker of doubt, though. She remained resolute, coming back to win the first set, 6-4, before going on a ten-game winning streak.
So Serena is now on the brink of completing the Calendar Year Slam and besting Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles in the Open Era. But, sadly, no matter how many titles she wins or how many records she sets Serena Williams will never get the recognition she deserves. The fact that she has won four slams in a row has gone largely unnoticed. Had Federer won his first title in 3 years he’d no doubt have received more appreciation than Williams.
Courtesy Shaun Botterill/Getty Images, outdoorblog.it
There will always be people who use sexism as a way of ‘keeping Serena in her place.’ The media will continue to compare her to a ‘ferocious animal’ and some will use the term ‘scary’ to describe her. But it’s applauded when a male athlete shows the same passion and commitment.
Despite lack of respect, Serena Williams will not stop being great. In fact, she’s legendary. She has shown a level of sporting greatness that we’ll most likely never see again.
She rose to World No.1 in 2002 and battled through troubled seasons (2004-2007) that dropped her to 95th in the world. But there was very little doubt she’d return to top form.
Serena Williams is unbeatable on mental strength alone. She’ll end the season as World No.1.
Nobody looks capable of challenging her for that crown…at least just yet.
