Serena Williams’ bid for an historic 24th Grand Slam title is gaining momentum after she prevailed in her toughest test so far at Melbourne Park.
The former world No.1 weathered the storm to edge out seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. One of the most in-form players currently on the women’s Tour who had won three out of her four previous tournaments prior to the Australian Open. Despite a blip in the second set where she got broken three times in a row, Williams managed to tame her rival with the help of nine aces and 30 winners.
“I just felt like even the games that I lost, I was so close to winning,” Williams reflected on the match during her press conference. “Not all games, but probably most of those games. I just needed to play better on the big points. I knew that I could. I still haven’t reached my peak. I was like, ‘Okay, Serena, you got this, just keep going.’”
Battling on court for more than two hours the 39-year-old also had to contend with a minor scare after suffering an awkward fall. Triggering flashbacks to 2019 where she rolled her ankle during the same tournament. Fortunately for the American she suffered no such issue following her latest mishap.
‘It didn’t hurt at all. I didn’t roll my ankle, so that was good. Yeah, I think it was just dramatic, me being dramatic,’ she said.
‘My first thought was, Not another ankle sprain in Australia. But I knew immediately that it wasn’t. Then I was more embarrassed than anything. I was like, “Oh, my goodness”. ‘I don’t like falling. I don’t think it’s – I don’t like falling. But I was fine. I mean, once I realised I didn’t twist my ankle like at all, I was like, “Okay, I’m good, let me just get up.”
Williams is through to the last eight of a Grand Slam for the 54th time in her career. She has now won 91 main draw matches at the Australian Open which is more than what Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza and Naomi Osaka have won together. Overall, the latest victory is her 360th in a Grand Slam.
In the last eight Williams is set to take on either Simona Halep or Iga Swiatek. Two players who are currently ranked higher than her but will not be the overwhelming favourites heading into the match. Based on Experience Williams has the edge but she weary of the challenge she faces.
“I think there’s been a lot of players that really could win the title since the beginning of the draw. I think there’s so many players that can come out and have won Grand Slams and can keep winning,” she commented on the state of women’s tennis.
“It’s good. It’s good to see. It’s good to see that I’m in that mix, too.”
Williams will play her quarter-final match on Tuesday.
