There are days Serena Williams looks unbeatable no matter who she is playing. Ten years ago those were known as days that end in a ‘Y.’
But these days the 35 year-old sometimes has a bad day and is ripe for the taking. Yesterday, was one of those days.
Fortunately for the No. 2 seed in the Australian Open, she was playing Barbora Strycova, who was battling a bad back, and was able to win in straight sets, 7-5 6-4.
“I feel like it was really good for me to win on probably not my best day, which is always good, because sometimes you rely on one shot and if it goes off, and then, like, what happens now?” Williams said. “It was really good for me to almost lose that so I know my other game is going pretty good, too.”
With No. 1 seed Angelique Kerber going out to Coco Vandeweghe, this could be very well Serena’s tournament to lose. Of course Venus Williams is playing like it’s 2002 all over again, who very well could beat her sister.
“I think she’s playing really well,” Serena said. “She’s been really putting in a lot of the hard work. She had a really intense preseason. We trained right next to each other.
“Yeah, like I said, I feel like when you put in the hard work, the results, eventually, they show up.”
And that could be said about Serena these days. There were times back seven or eight years ago, where Serena looked like she was more interested in being a tennis star rather than just playing tennis. Those days seem to have waned, as the younger Williams sister is just about winning these days.
And if she wins this one, Serena will regain her No. 1 ranking and also win that elusive 23rd Grand Slam victory.
So now that we are into the playoff rounds of the OZ Open, it stands to reason Serena Williams is still the highest woman still standing.
The days still end in a ‘Y.’
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