In a recent interview on Stephen Colbert’s USA talk show, 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams talked about many things, including her future and goals. Serena in particular has stated that her next goal is to only play for the Grand Slam events.
She said, “I’m really playing for Grand Slams right now. I love to still have the opportunity to be out here and compete at this level. It’s always an opportunity when I win a Grand Slam, it means me the world. “
Serena Williams’s 2021 season
Serena opened in 2021 at the Yarra Valley Classic, where she was placed 5th: After the bye on her debut, she won her first win of the year against Darja Gavrilova (6-1, 6-4), in the round of 16 she met Tsvetana Pironkova, against which he also competed in the quarterfinals of the last US Open, and won two comfortable sets (6-1, 6-4).
Serena then defeated Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals, but had to retire in the semifinals with shoulder problems. She then took part in the Australian Open, in the hunt for the 24th Grand Slam title; She quickly defeated Laura Siegemund in the first round with a double 6: 1 and then Nina Stojanović 6: 3, 6: 0.
In the third round she eliminated Anastasija Potapova with some difficulty 7-6, 6-2 and in the round of 16 she met Aryna Sabalenka for the first time in her career, against whom she was 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in her In the quarterfinals she celebrated her tenth career success against the number two in the world, Simona Halep, who she defeated with a double 6-3.
She then reached her 9th semifinal in the Australian major, where she crossed with Naomi Osaka. For the third of four times, Serena is defeated by the Japanese, this time with 3-6, 4-6. The Australian Grand Slam was the last tennis event for the American who took a break.
After a break of about three months, Serena returned to the Internazionali square in Rome, where she played the 1,000th game of her career, faced Argentinian Nadia Podoroska in the first round and was defeated 6-7, 5-7.
She later played the Emilia Romagna Open, where she was recognized as seeded number one: she ousted the young Italian Lisa Pigato in the first round with 6-3, 6-2, but was then surprised by Kateřina Siniaková, who won her with 7- 6, 6-2 eliminated.
Then she reached the second slam of the season, the French Open, where she defeated the Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu with 7-6, 6-2 and Mihaela Buzărnescu with 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. In the third round, Serena won the derby with Danielle Collins on a double 6-4 and advanced to the second round, when she faced Elena Rybakina, an opponent she had never faced before, against whom she was 3-6, 5-7 lost.
In the third slam of the season, Wimbledon, Serena had to give up in the first round against Sasnovič in tears due to a thigh injury. At the end of the tournament she slipped to 16th place in the world rankings. Photo credit: News block
