Serena gears up for US Open with crown
Source: Agencies |
August 2, 2011, Tuesday
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SERENA Williams sounded an ominous warning to her rivals that she will be a genuine contender at the US Open after winning the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, on Sunday in her third tournament back from injury.
Williams overpowered third seed Marion Bartoli of France 7-5, 6-1 in Sunday's final and her opponent, who triumphed when they last met in the fourth round at Wimbledon this year, applauded the American's performance.
"She has really improved her level from Wimbledon," the ninth-ranked Bartoli told reporters. "She beat (Maria) Sharapova and (Sabine) Lisicki easily, and everything is just better - her serve, her movement.
"I would pick Serena (as the US Open favorite) considering how many times she won there. Six weeks from now, she'll be more than 10 percent better."
In winning five matches on her way to the Stanford title, Williams experienced only one hiccup when she dropped a set to Russian Maria Kirilenko in the second round.
The American crushed Australian Anastasia Rodionova 6-0, 6-0 in the first round, eased past fifth-ranked Russian Sharapova 6-1, 6-3 in the last eight and then destroyed Wimbledon semifinalist Lisicki of Germany 6-1, 6-2.
US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez was hugely impressed by how Williams "managed" her matches.
Blasting players
"Even when she was at the top of her game, she would go off once in a while and in her last three matches I didn't see that," Fernandez said.
"She wasn't blasting players off the court and she worked the points. She wasn't hitting winners left and right and she still has a lot of room to improve. At Wimbledon, she was not as sure with her reactions, plus she looked fitter."
Former world No. 1 Williams, who returned to the tour in June after taking almost a year off due to injury and illness, is projected to break into the top 80 when the new rankings are issued yesterday.
While she has completed impressive comebacks from knee injuries in the past, she felt her own reaction to this most recent return from a severe foot injury and pulmonary embolism was unique.
"The hunger is a lot but it's different," the American said. "It is more happiness and I feel relief and grateful."
Williams, who was ranked a lowly 169th coming into the Bank of the West Classic, plans to take a week's break before returning to competition in Toronto and Cincinnati.
The US Open, where Williams has won the singles title three times, takes place from August 29 to September 11 in New York.
In Los Angeles, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia won the Farmers Classic on Sunday, rallying past top-seeded Mardy Fish 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 for his second career ATP tour title.
Gulbis entered the tournament on a five-match losing streak, but the inconsistent 22-year-old with a ferocious serve outlasted Fish, the top-ranked American and world No. 9, in a 2-hour, 43-minute final.
"It's just a huge boost in confidence," said Gulbis, who entered the tournament on a five-match losing streak.
"I lost trust in myself that I can compete with the best guys. I knew it, but I was up and down. Mardy is a great player, and to beat him, now I've got my confidence back."
Williams overpowered third seed Marion Bartoli of France 7-5, 6-1 in Sunday's final and her opponent, who triumphed when they last met in the fourth round at Wimbledon this year, applauded the American's performance.
"She has really improved her level from Wimbledon," the ninth-ranked Bartoli told reporters. "She beat (Maria) Sharapova and (Sabine) Lisicki easily, and everything is just better - her serve, her movement.
"I would pick Serena (as the US Open favorite) considering how many times she won there. Six weeks from now, she'll be more than 10 percent better."
In winning five matches on her way to the Stanford title, Williams experienced only one hiccup when she dropped a set to Russian Maria Kirilenko in the second round.
The American crushed Australian Anastasia Rodionova 6-0, 6-0 in the first round, eased past fifth-ranked Russian Sharapova 6-1, 6-3 in the last eight and then destroyed Wimbledon semifinalist Lisicki of Germany 6-1, 6-2.
US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez was hugely impressed by how Williams "managed" her matches.
Blasting players
"Even when she was at the top of her game, she would go off once in a while and in her last three matches I didn't see that," Fernandez said.
"She wasn't blasting players off the court and she worked the points. She wasn't hitting winners left and right and she still has a lot of room to improve. At Wimbledon, she was not as sure with her reactions, plus she looked fitter."
Former world No. 1 Williams, who returned to the tour in June after taking almost a year off due to injury and illness, is projected to break into the top 80 when the new rankings are issued yesterday.
While she has completed impressive comebacks from knee injuries in the past, she felt her own reaction to this most recent return from a severe foot injury and pulmonary embolism was unique.
"The hunger is a lot but it's different," the American said. "It is more happiness and I feel relief and grateful."
Williams, who was ranked a lowly 169th coming into the Bank of the West Classic, plans to take a week's break before returning to competition in Toronto and Cincinnati.
The US Open, where Williams has won the singles title three times, takes place from August 29 to September 11 in New York.
In Los Angeles, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia won the Farmers Classic on Sunday, rallying past top-seeded Mardy Fish 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 for his second career ATP tour title.
Gulbis entered the tournament on a five-match losing streak, but the inconsistent 22-year-old with a ferocious serve outlasted Fish, the top-ranked American and world No. 9, in a 2-hour, 43-minute final.
"It's just a huge boost in confidence," said Gulbis, who entered the tournament on a five-match losing streak.
"I lost trust in myself that I can compete with the best guys. I knew it, but I was up and down. Mardy is a great player, and to beat him, now I've got my confidence back."
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