Serena Williams still ‘confident’ of achieving Grand Slam record
By Chris Myson
Prior to starting another season on the WTA Tour in Auckland, Serena Williams remains confident of achieving Grand Slam history at the age of 38.
Serena Williams concedes her four consecutive defeats in Grand Slam finals have been “tough” but remains as confident and optimistic as ever that she can make history by reaching 24 majors.
The American has been stuck on 23 Grand Slam titles ever since her unbelievable victory at the 2017 Australian Open, with it later emerging she had won the event while at least eight weeks pregnant.
Since her return to the court, Serena has come agonisingly close to reaching 24, which is the all-time record mark currently held by Margaret Court.
She has charged into four major finals, two each at Wimbledon and the US Open, but lost in straight sets every time, with Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu the players to beat her.
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Serena still rues how she could not produce her best performances on those occasions but continues to expect the moment will come soon as she strives to achieve the record.
After winning the most majors in consecutive decades in the 2000s and 2010s as part of a remarkable career, she plans to add more in the 2020s.
“[Reaching 24 Slams has] meant a lot to me for a while, and now it is just about getting over that one hump,” Serena Williams said as she prepared to start her season at the ASB Classic, where she could face Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.
“I’m almost there and I’m confident that I will get there. It was tough for me. I really felt like I was close, but I didn’t really ‘show up’ in those matches, and so I have to figure out how to compete in those.”
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Serena has not played a match since the US Open and now has a busy week on her return as she will also be teaming up with Caroline Wozniacki in doubles competition.
As well as her Grand Slam final woe, Serena is yet to win a WTA Tour title since her comeback despite the impressive performances to reach the late stages of majors.
Indeed, the last two in her amazing total of 72 WTA titles were majors, with Wimbledon in 2016 being her other most recent crown along with the Australian Open.
Her last non-Slam title was at the Italian Open in May 2016, but that could change next week where she is top seed in the singles.
She added: “I haven’t won [in Auckland] yet. I don’t like to go places and not have that opportunity, but I have a new opportunity to try and do that.”
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Serena Williams starts a new season once again as the biggest draw in women’s tennis. She hopes and anticipates it will be the year that finally gets her over that Grand Slam record hump.