Serena Williams: 'I can see myself competing on clay in Europe after US Open'

The US Open organizers have confirmed they will stage the second Major of the season from August 31, focusing on health issues to reduce the coronavirus pandemic's risks. The WTA season has resumed this week in Palermo, with two more tournaments scheduled for the next week in Lexington and Prague. The 23-time Major champion Serena Williams is the top seed in Lexington, competing for the first time in six months and the Fed Cup duels against Latvia in Everett. Unlike many other players who have embraced exhibition matches in the last couple of months, Serena has been safe under her bubble at home with family, taking the virus seriously and putting tennis aside. One of the greatest players ever is ready to hit the court again, eager to chase the 24th Major crown in New York in September. Also, Serena has not ruled out a possible trip to Europe for the clay season in Rome and Roland Garros in September, seeing that as a reasonable opportunity if the circumstances allow that.

Serena will enter the main draw in New York for the 20th time, seeking the elusive 24th Major title and the seventh on the home ground, the first since 2014! Back in May, Serena said she feels better than ever, using a previous couple of months to recover and give her body necessary rest after numerous injuries in the last couple of years and many tournaments she had to skip. The 38-year-old is eager to get back on the court and compete again, attempting to win that 24th Major crown that she has been seeking since the Australian Open 2017, following the victory over her sister Venus. Returning after pregnancy a year later, Williams reached the final at Wimbledon, losing to Angelique Kerber in straight sets and returning into the top-30 after kicking off the event ranked 181st. Serena lost early in San Jose and Cincinnati, saving her best tennis for the home Major in New York where she competed for the crown again, winning just six games against Naomi Osaka for another setback at Majors.

Serena Williams wants to play both US Open and Roland Garros.

Skipping the rest of 2018, Williams played well at Wimbledon, Toronto and New York last year, advancing into three title matches and losing them to Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu, respectively. At the beginning of 2020, Serena claimed the first WTA title in three years in Auckland, hoping for more in Melbourne but suffering the third-round loss to Qiang Wang. In her last official matches so far, Williams lost a thriller to Anastasija Sevastova before beating Jelena Ostapenko in two tie breaks. Aryna Sabalenka, Johanna Konta and Amanda Anisimova are other top-30 players who have signed to compete in Lexington, alongside Serena.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/31M9N2P