Serena, the unstoppable force
The current world no. 1 has showed she is only human. There were moments in her third round match against Heather Watson when Williams was literally in tears. She was in despair not because the Briton was nullifying her game – she was not – it was simply because the American wasn’t able to play her own.
Williams cringed in despair each time she struck one into the net or when a forehand sailed wide. Subsequently, when an effortless winner followed, she would coach herself with palms outstretched as if to say, “It’s as easy as that”.
Barring moments of self-destruction that almost cost her the match against an unheralded Brit in round three, Williams has looked in utmost control at this year’s Wimbledon. Coming into the semi-finals, she has been dominant despite conceding two sets. When Watson, riding the wave of a partisan home crowd, posed questions, the American dug deep to quell the challenge. And when Azarenka played with animated aggression, Williams bullied her with winners – 46, to be precise.
The 5-time Wimbledon winner has the most powerful game in women’s tennis today, and she has been displaying her full repertoire at SW19 this year. She has thus far pummeled 177 winners and sent down 55 aces. Coming into the second week, her net play has been decisive as well. Winning 83% of points played at the net, she is as potent a force up-front as she is when on the baseline.
On course for the Grand Slam
Coming into the tournament having won the Australian and French Opens this year, the 33-year-old has displayed a great run of form. With 34 wins on tour this year, she has suffered just one loss. Only two matches now stand between her and a third major in 2015. Despite her adopting a “no slam talk” policy, it is hard not to think about the fact that she’s firmly on course to achieve the elusive Grand Slam. Not since Steffi Graf managed the feat in 1998 has a woman been close. Williams has both the credentials and desire to scale that summit.
Going into the semi-finals against Sharapova, Williams holds a mammoth 17-2 head-to-head advantage over the Russian. It was at the 2004 Wimbledon Final that Sharapova last enjoyed success over the American on grass. When the two met earlier this year in the Australian Open Final, the tall Russian was vanquished yet again.
With the odds and current form stacked in her favour, Serena appears unstoppable. While her competitors have certainly tried, the American hasn’t budged. No opponent, it appears at the moment, has the tenacity to spar with her long enough to break her mettle. Barring a meltdown and an injury, Serena looks all set to pocket title number six at the famed All-England courts and stay on course for the Grand Slam.