Serena Williams demonstrated an indomitable spirit in Paris today, shaking off what she admitted later to be some ‘nervousness’ to take her 20th Grand Slam title, the third at Roland Garros.
Serena was the book makers favorite in the match against Czech left-hander, Lucie Safarova, seeded 13th. And the American justified expectations when she raced to a 6-3 win in the first set.
She was on course when she led 4-1 in the second set, only to lose her serve to Safarova, not because of Safarova’s aggression, but because of a string of problems, self-inflicted.
Safarova took the game and the next three, coming ahead of Serena for the first time at 5-4.
Serena fought back to level the set, by taking her next game and also breaking Safarova to make the scoreline, 6-5. Then Serena slipped again, allowing the Czech star to tie the set and also win the tie-breaker.
In the decisive third set, Serena’s lethargy continued again, slipping 0-2 to Safarova, in the opening games.
But the American went on to demonstrate, a never-say-die, indomitable spirit, winning the next six games and closing it all with a winner, which she smashed down the middle. She thus crowned her week of extra-ordinary rallies, having to claw out of danger, against opponents.
Serena had close-calls four times on her way to the final, her closest being in the fourth round as she was three points from losing against inspired WTA Rising Star Sloane Stephens serving at 1-6, 4-5, 0-15.
With Safarova, it was like the French-speaking American was going to have a day in the park at 6-3, 4-1, even going up 40-15 in that game – double game point for a seemingly unstoppable 6-3, 5-1 lead.
The match turned in a big way from there, though. Safarova dug out of that double game point and ended up winning five of the next seven games to push the second set to a tie-break, and after she raced through that tie-break, she raced out to an early 2-0 lead in the third set – Williams was in real danger.
But like she’s done so many times in her illustrious career there was one last fightback left, and the No.1-seeded Williams reeled off six games in a row to edge the No.13-seeded Safarova, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2.
An elated Williams spoke to the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd afterwards – in French.
“It got really complicated today,” Williams said. “I was getting a little bit nervous, and Lucie was just playing great. She was a magificent opponent. She was playing very aggressive and she had no fear.
“But to win my 20th Grand Slam here at Roland Garros is very special for me because I haven’t always had the most success here. I want to thank all of the fans – it’s just a dream that I’ve won this.”
And when asked to say a few words to her fans back home in English? “Everyone watching back home, thank you for all the support. This is just a dream for me. I love you, I love you, I love you – thank you!”
Final score: Serena V safarova: 6-3, 6-7, 6-2.
*With reports by wtatour.com
Leave a Reply