Stopping Serena Williams

Written by: Global Chick on 8th September 2011

Stopping Serena Williams

Serena Williams of the US reacts as she plays Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during their fourth round match on the eighth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 05 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

Serena Williams will turn 30 in the next couple of weeks. The American superstar has had an amazing career since turning Pro in 1995.

Serena has had long injury breaks and time away from the Tour several times but she never fails to surprise us with her powerful and confident style of tennis. She has by far the best serve in the women’s game and her groundstrokes are very aggressive.

Williams became the World No. 1 for the first time in July in 2002. Her Grand Slam record stands at 13 in singles, 12 in doubles and 2 in mixed doubles a total of 27 and there are more trophies to come. Serena and her sister Venus have won two Olympic Gold medals in doubles. The sisters have played each other 23 times and Venus has won 13 matches. Eight meetings have been in Grand Slam finals.

It’s going to be very difficult for any female player at this year’s US Open to stop the American powerhouse. Serena is seeded No. 28, which is way too low for someone of her calibre. She is yet to lose a set and in her last match she took out Ana Ivanovic, the No. 16 seed in two straight sets 6-3 6-4.

The Michigan born player has won the US Open singles title three times in 1999, 2002 and 2008. She has also along with her sister won the doubles crown twice in ’99 and ’09.

Her quarterfinal opponent is Anastasia Pavlyuchnkova of Russia. The Russian is 10-years younger than Williams. Her best US Open result was last year when she reached the fourth round.

Pavlyuchenkova defeated French Open Champion Francesca Schiavone in the round of 16. The Russian said of her next opponent, “I don’t know much about her. She’s just awesome and a great athlete and she’s showing some good tennis so far. I’m gonna say that I don’t want to go out there and enjoy just being on the center court playing against Serena. I would like to do will, try to fight and with my effort I try to beat her you know.”

Williams said in her press conference her movement is improving and is back at the same level it was a year ago. Of her biggest weapon her serve she said, “I think I just have confidence in it. It’s a weapon. Like I’m just okay, I’m going to hit an ace here. I hit an ace. That’s how I serve.”

Venus and Serena Williams haven’t got the best techniques around. They are tall, fit and intimidating. It seems like every time a girl are about to beat them the Williams sisters have got an extra gear tucked away. It would be very surprising if Serena didn’t hold the silverware at the end of this week. There isn’t a girl left in the US Open draw that can stop the amazing American athlete.