Serena Williams Wants To Win Rome And Paris

Written by: Staff on 13th May 2013

Serena Williams Wants To Win Rome And Paris

epa03697321 US tennis player Serena Williams celebrates with the trophy after winning against Russian Maria Sharapova in their Madrid Open tennis tournament final round match at the Caja Magica pavilion in Madrid, central Spain, 12 May 2013. EPA/EMILIO NARANJO |

Serena Williams is shifting her attention to winning a second Roland Garros title 13 years after her only other trophy success in Paris. The world No. 1 is full of confidence after winning a second straight title at the weekend in Madrid. Williams hammered longtime opponent Paris Sharapova 6-1, 6-4 for her 12th victory over the Russian since 2004 and kept her grip on the top WTA ranking.

Now Williams, seeded to face off with her rival this weeks in Rome in the final major clay tune-up before the May 26 start of the major, is casting her eyes to the biggest prize on clay.

“It definitely plays more like Roland Garros, so I think that’s a plus,” said Williams of the Madrid clay which went back to traditional red from last year’s controversial blue. “It’s a little slower than it was last year and plays more like a true clay court. So I think it’s great preparation.”

Williams has plenty to prove in Paris after going out in the first round in 2012 to Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano. “It’s the ultimate challenge,” she said of the Paris final. “Whether I reach it, I don’t know. I’m not going to put that pressure on myself. I wanted it last year and I didn’t get it. So this year I’m just looking forward to Rome and then after that Roland Garros and see what happens.

“I feel pressure every day. I think it’s a good thing a little bit because it means I’m still really hungry. If I didn’t, then I would be like, oh, it doesn’t matter. Every time I play I really relish it more, every time I get out there,” she said.

“I feel like, honestly, Serena, when are you going to get tired? I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s because of what I went through. I just feel like I’m so fortunate to be out there and healthy and to have an opportunity to play something, a sport, and be really good at it.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: American tennis news, clay court tennis, French Open, Mutua Madrid Master, Rome Masters, Serena Williams, Tennis News, Wta