Saturday, July 7, 2012

Serena Back Where She Belongs

She was threatening to return to her Grand Slam winning ways ever since she made her return in June last year, but it took Serena a few months to finally get there. However, the inevitable happened today when the American sealed another Wimbledon crown with a tense three sets victory over Agnieszka Radwanska in the final. 
This edition wasn't exactly a walk in the park for Serena. After some bumpy encounters early on, she brought her A-game when she needed it most, taking out defending champion, Petra Kvitova, the number 1 player of the world, Victoria Azarenka, and ultimately the tenacious Pole, to tie her sister Venus with 5 Wimbledon trophies. "I've always wanted what Venus has," the younger Williams said in the on-court interview. She and Venus now own a combined 10 out of the last 13 Wimbledon singles titles.
The triumph was very emotional for Serena, who had to battle a lengthy foot injury and survive a near-death experience before making her comeback last year. "Oh my God, I can't even describe it," she said in her on-court interview. "I want to thank Jehovah for letting me get this far. I almost didn't make it a few years ago, but now I'm here again and it's so worth it. I'm so happy. I've dreamed of being here again. It shows if you never give up, you can achieve anything."
While many were expecting the Williams sisters to be long gone by now, both Venus and Serena have stated their intensions of being around for many years to come. Serena, a 14th Grand Slam champion now, has said: "I'm so happy to be on the court. I feel like this is where I belong. I mean, maybe I don't belong in a relationship. Maybe I don't belong somewhere else. But I know for a fact I do belong on this tennis court." This kind of commitment from the American is worrisome for her opponents. Although she might not be ranked number 1 in the world anymore, Serena is undefeated against top5 rivals in the last year, so a return to the top of the rankings is expected anytime soon.
A few hours after contesting the singles final, the American was back on court for the doubles championship match. As expected, she and sister Venus, rooted Czech Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka to win their fifth Wimbledon crown.

Serena claimed her 14th Grand Slam title disposing of Agnieska Radwasnka 6-1,5-7,6-2. It was the American's 5th Wimbledon crown, and first since 2010.
Venus and Serena retained their doubles magic, addicting a fifth Wimbledon crown and taking their tally to an impressive thirteen Grand Slam titles. In the final they beat Czech Hlavackova and Hradecka 7-5,6-4.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

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