Can Anyone Beat Serena?

Written by: Staff on 8th September 2009

Can Anyone Beat Serena?

Serena Williams returns the serve in her US Open match against Marion Bartoli, Serena Williams wins the match over Bartoli 6-3, 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Tennis Center in Flushing, New York on September 2, 2007. |

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – With all the talk of Melanie Oudin, Kim Clijsters, and even Caroline Wozniacki, no one is talking about the big stumbling block at the bottom of the draw.

Yet, No. 2 seed Serena Williams just keeps winning, not even dropping a set this tournament with a 6-4, 6-3, win in the Quarterfinals over No 10 seed Flavia Pennetta.

“I’m always taking every opponent super-serious,” Williams said. “Flavia is clearly a good player, and I was definitely not underestimating her. I thought it was a really good match. You know, she also has a good spirit.”

Williams is of course being gracious, because Pennetta had no chance in this match. The one thing Williams has is power, which no opponent can compete with. She can pretty much blow away the competition, especially on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

And she’s done just that. None of her matches were that close. In fact, Williams has a pretty boring show at this Open. How can you have drama, when one player is just so much better.

Yet, this could change on Thursday as Williams plays against Clijsters in the Semis. These two are very old rivals and also old friends, so the younger Williams sister is expecting a good match, even though Serena holds a 7-1 record over the Belgium Ace.

“Yeah, she’s a really good player,” Williams said. “She plays tough. She plays hard. Now it’s like a totally different level, because she has absolutely nothing to lose. I think that’s when you can play your ultimate best tennis.”

She also joked about how Clijsters is now faster after her pregnancy, but the fact remains, 7-1 is 7-1 and the only time Serena was beaten was on carpet.

And that’s the silent question no one wants to ask. Who can beat Serena. Even with Oudin’s great story, can she go toe to toe against Williams if they meet in the final. Can Wozniacki?

“I think [Oudin’s] doing great,” Williams said. “I think she can even win her next match, seeing all the players she’s beaten.I think she actually should win. It’s been my joy watching her play. It’s been exciting, especially for American tennis.”

Sure, Williams likes the way Oudin plays, she has the same spirit as Serena and her success takes pressure off the 27 year-old three time Open Champion. If people are talking about Oudin, then they are not discussing Serena.

And that’s the way she likes it. For all the diva like activities that comes with Serena, she is still a heck of a tennis player. And as we have seen over these last nine days, if left alone, Williams will go quietly about her business.

Yet, the fact remains Williams is still the best out there and the odds on favorite to win the tournament. Right now, she is playing her best tennis of the year, and no one whose left can compete with her power.

Of course anything can happen; just look at Andy Murray.

Topics: Ace, Belgium, Blow, Carpet, Flavia Pennetta, Flushing Meadows Ny, Good Spirit, Kim Clijsters, Match, Melanie Oudin, Old Friends, Opponent, Pregnancy, Quarterfinals, Rivals, Semis, Serena Williams, Stumbling Block, Tennis, Williams Sister