Serena just happy to be playing again

Sunday, 19 June 2011 by Ian Baker

Having played just one tournament - last week's Championships warm-up event at Eastbourne - since she won the singles title for a fourth time last year, Serena Williams is not putting any undue pressure on herself. The popular American has suffered a nightmare time since seemingly innocuously treading on broken glass last July and then going on to suffer a pulmonary embolism with blood clots in both lungs.

But when she sets foot back on Centre Court on Tuesday to face Aravane Rezai, Serena knows she will have achieved her main aim having feared she was at death's door. The No.7 seeds insists she has not even considered a fairytale victory on July 2. "It would be awesome and amazing, but my thought process is just to play the best I can and to be positive," she said. "I'm happy to have been here. Six or seven weeks of just trying to get myself together isn't a tremendous amount of time, but the fact that I can even compete and be in a position I wasn't sure I'd have a chance to be at again is more than enough.

"I've learned that health is key, and there's nothing better than being healthy. I also learned that I feel like I have a lot and these things build character in people. Overcoming certain obstacles, overcoming being down match point as opposed to overcoming something else is two totally different things. Life is too short, so have a drink!"

But Serena will hardly be drinking in the last chance saloon and did enough to suggest a miraculous Wimbledon win is possible again after a feisty showing on England's south coast last week.

Going down 7-5 in a classic final set second round match against Russian Vera Zvonareva, whom she beat to win last year's Wimbledon title, the 29-year-old looked as good as new - and more importantly, did not feel any side effects.

"I didn't feel anything after a three-hour match," she said. "That was a blessing. I felt like the breaks were five seconds long. Every time I sat down, the umpire would call 'time'. But I felt like I was able to go through it. I was fine physically when I got off the court. My Mom was so worried about me. I keep telling her I'm okay. She's like: 'if you feel anything, just stop. Come off the court.' I'm like: 'Mom, the doctor said I would be okay.' I felt fine and I ran a lot and I felt good. I still feel pretty good. I talked to my doctors almost every day before I left, and he said I'll be fine. I just had to get my lungs into better shape. I'm probably actually in better shape running wise than I was before."

The four-time Wimbledon champion revealed that she never even considered quitting and has thoughts of playing well into her thirties. "I always thought I would want to continue to play," she said. "I thought I would play a lot sooner but things didn't work out. I'm never the type to stop. I'll stop when I'm ready, and I'm just not ready. I really thoroughly enjoy being out here."


Source

Wimbledon 2011
Serena Williams
Champions interview
(credits: wimbledon.com)

http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/interactive/video/index.html?vf=http://media.wimbledon.org/2010/web/s_williams_interview_512x288_800.mp4&cat=interviews

DICE NO ESTAR FÍSICAMENTE PERFECTA, PERO SÍ CON CONFIANZA

Serena Williams: "Dejaré de jugar cuando esté lista y ahora no lo estoy"

EFE. Londres 19/06/11 - 15:16.

La vigente campeona de Wimbledon, Serena Williams, confesó que nunca pensó en dejar las pistas pese a los problemas de salud sufridos a principios de año, pues todavía no se siente preparada para decir adiós al tenis. "Siempre quise seguir jugando. Pensé que jugaría mucho más pronto, pero las cosas no salieron así. No soy el tipo de persona que deja algo. Me retiraré cuando esté preparada y ahora no lo estoy. Realmente disfruto estando aquí", explicó la menor de las hermanas Williams, de 29 años, en una rueda de prensa ofrecida en las instalaciones del All England Club.

Serena regresó a la competición la semana pasada, el 14 de junio, después de casi un año fuera del circuito. No disputaba un encuentro oficial desde el 3 de julio del 2010, cuando sumó su decimotercer Grand Slam al ganar en Londres. Poco después, una lesión en su pie derecho producida por un corte le impidieron jugar durante meses y, cuando ya se disponía a volver a los entrenamientos, a principios de marzo de este año, tuvo que ser intervenida a causa de un hematoma producido por una embolia pulmonar (coagulación de sangre en uno de los pulmones). "Físicamente no me sentía excelente, obviamente. Pero, mentalmente, estaba por los suelos. Creo que es normal, era de esperar", dijo la ex número 1 del mundo.

Recuperada y, de nuevo, "con confianza", Serena Williams quiso transmitir a los periodistas lo afortunada que se siente por haber superado sus recientes problemas y por haber recibido de ellos una gran lección: "He aprendido que la salud es la clave y no hay nada mejor que estar sano". No obstante, ésta aseguró que en ningún momento perdió la calma: "Yo estaba bastante tranquila. Estaba más preocupada por mis padres y todo eso. Pero, en realidad, me sentía bien. Aunque estuve en una situación alarmante, en un estado muy crítico, parecía que me llegaba de algún sitio cierta calma".

Tras un año especialmente duro para las dos hermanas, en el que Venus también vivió seis meses de inactividad por una lesión de rodilla y caderas hasta su regreso en Eastbourne, las Williams emprenderán Wimbledon como cabezas de serie. Serena será séptima y Venus vigésimo tercera. Las dos han pasado más tiempo que nunca juntas y, quizá la mala época que una atravesaba ayudaba a la otra a no derrumbarse. "Odio decir esto, pero cuando estás baja de moral, siempre es bueno ver a alguien que está mal, igual que tú", admitió Serena Williams.

Después de ponerse a prueba en Eastbourne, donde cuenta que hizo sufrir mucho a su madre por la preocupación de que volviera a sentir molestias al respirar, Serena tratará de defender su título de 2010, aunque en esta edición del torneo las miradas se dirigen hacia la última revelación del tenis femenino: Na Li. La china se convirtió hace unas semanas en la primera de su país en ganar un Gran Slam cuando alzó el trofeo de Roland Garros, motivo por el que Serena la felicitó al encontrarse cara a cara en Eastbourne. "Es muy buena persona, una gran mujer. Siempre está bien ver ganar a alguien que no sólo se lo merece y trabaja duro, sino que también tiene un gran corazón", añadió Serena, que debutará el martes ante la francesa Aravane Rezai.

www.marca.com

Wimbledon (F) : Serena reste sobre

dimanche 19 juin 2011 - 19h40

Serena Williams estime qu’elle ne vise pas forcément la victoire à Wimbledon cette année.

« Ce serait magnifique de gagner, mais ce n'est pas ce à quoi je pense, a-t-elle déclaré à l’AFP. Je pense simplement à donner le meilleur de moi-même et à être positive. Je suis contente d'être ici. Six ou sept semaines pour essayer d'être prête, ce n'est pas énorme, mais le fait de pouvoir participer et d'être dans une position que je n'étais pas sûre de pouvoir atteindre est plus que suffisant. »

www.sport365.fr

Serena Williams - pre-tournament

Sunday, 19 June 2011

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, very pleased to have our reigning ladies Wimbledon champion Serena Williams here. Who would like to ask the first question?


Q. You've come back on the tour after almost a year. Can you give us a sense of your preparation and has it been any different than in previous years?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It's definitely been different this time around. Just pretty much similar preparation, just working out. Just having to work out a little bit harder because I'm starting from zero, whereas before I wasn't starting from zero.


Q. What was the low point for you this last year since you won at Wimbledon?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I mean, probably just the disaster I would say probably the hematoma that I suffered, because after I had the lung problem, it was like, Okay, I got through that.

Then having to have a surgery, removing the hematoma, was just my low point. I felt it was never gonna end.


Q. So what was your physical condition at that time and what was your mental state at that moment?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, physical was, you know, obviously not excellent. But mentally I was just down. But, you know, I think that's normal. That is expected. I mean, it was what it was. I'm just trying to look forward to just moving on.

At that point, I obviously wasn't at that point. I was just, uhm, pretty upset and just wondering when this string of things would stop happening.


Q. You've been through a lot in your career. You had the 13 slams. You had the No. 1. Was there a point where you said, You know, this just isn't worth it anymore, I can go on with my life, don't have to play tennis anymore, start another career?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, never. I always thought I would want to continue to play. You know, I thought I would play a lot sooner; things didn't work out. But, uhm, you know, I'm never the type to stop. You know, I'll stop when I'm ready, and I'm just not ready. I really thoroughly enjoy being out here.


Q. Since Li Na wins the Roland Garros championship, everybody is talking about her. Do you have any words or advice to her?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I saw here in Eastbourne. I congratulated her. She's really a good person, a great woman. It's always good to see someone win that not only deserves it and works hard, but also has a good heart.


Q. Maybe you two will meet in the semifinal. How do you predict the consequence or outcome?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Look, I got to get there, so... (Smiling).


Q. Did you feel anything last week in terms of you've obviously had some trauma to your lungs and maybe on some medication because of what happened. Did you feel it in your breathing on the court besides rust?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't. That was a blessing. I didn't feel anything after a three hours' match. I felt like the breaks were five seconds long. Every time I sat down, the umpire would call, Time. But I felt like I was able to go through it.

I was fine physically when I got off the court. My mom was so worried about me. I keep telling her I'm okay. She's like, If you feel anything, just stop. Come off the court. I'm like, Mom, the doctor said I would be okay.

So I didn't feel anything. I felt fine and I ran a lot and I felt good. I still feel pretty good.


Q. Did that surprise you, that it was as good as it was?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I mean, I talked to my doctors almost every day before I left, and he said I'll be fine. I said, So can I pretend this never happened? He said, Yeah, just pretend this never happened and you'll be fine.

I just had to get my lungs into better shape. I'm probably actually in better shape running wise than I was before.


Q. How were you able to get your conditioning back so quickly? It's only been a couple months or six or seven weeks where you could really go full out.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I don't know. I really don't know. I work with this guy who's a machine, so...

I don't know. We'll see.


Q. Are you doing anything differently than in the past in that area of training?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I have to do things differently 'cause I had to expand my lung capacity, because I lost a little bit of my lung. So I had to expand it and just work on it and do better.


Q. What did the tour miss when it didn't have you playing this last year? What do you think is back when you're back?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think the tour missed just not having me around. But I really just missed not being around the tour. I missed the ladies in the locker room. I missed laughing. I missed having matches. I missed the tour.

You know, I hope it missed me, but I know I missed the tour.


Q. Have you had any special reaction from fellow players since you came back either in Eastbourne or here?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, everyone's so, you know, professional. Everyone's nice and asks how I'm doing. It's good. I think a lot of people are just, you know, getting ready and playing as well. It's all been very positive reaction.


Q. Are they happy you're back or they're afraid of you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I feel everyone's happy and just content, you know. Like we're fine. Women's tennis is doing so well and still have an opportunity to do well.


Q. What did you learn about where your game is at in Eastbourne? What are your hopes and expectations coming in here?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I learned that, uhm, my game's doing pretty good. There's some things that I want to work on and improve, but I can't be upset at all about my game. I think it's doing well.

You know, it's fun. I feel like I'm young again. I have goals that I set for myself and goals that I want to achieve. It's good to have those goals to do.


Q. Was there any particular shot you really missed hitting, that when you came back in practice and hit the first one Serena like that felt like a serve or a forehand or...
SERENA WILLIAMS: Definitely a serve, but I didn't travel with my serve to Eastbourne, so I hope it came with me. I hope he was in my luggage coming to Wimbledon, because I've missed him (smiling).

But on the practice court in Florida I was serving and I was like, Wow, I feel so good. That's amazing. I was singing that Kanye West song, "Blank" Ridiculous. It's how I felt at the time, like wow. But he didn't. I was just like, Please, come back.

Hopefully I'll have a good serve this week, fortnight.


Q. You spoke of missing the tour and the tour missing you. What is the void on the tour when you're not here?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I don't know. I mean, maybe some extra color, I guess. I don't know (laughter).

I think the tour's doing fine. Great new campaigns going on, so much going on in women's tennis. There's so much depth in women's tennis. It's good.


Q. When you heard that there was going to be a rematch of that Isner match from last year in the first round this year, what was your reaction and what do you remember most from last year's match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I thought it was a joke. I thought, Oh, this is a joke, you know. And I thought, Well, is it really real? Is it really true?

Then I thought, Okay, for sure I won't have to play after 'em because I know I'm first on, so...

I was like, Whew. Thank God.


Q. What do you remember most from last year's match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I just remember it being so long. I remember it was during World Cup. I watched that and then I switched to watch USA play World Cup. I kept thinking, It's never going to end.

Then three days later they're still going. I remember saying, I would have been like, Peace, at this point. Then I thought it was a third round match on like the Friday, and I realized it was a first round match. And I was like, no way. So...


Q. After everything you've been through in the past year, where would you rank in your career to retain your title here at Wimbledon?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Nothing. I mean, it would be awesome and amazing, but that's not my thought process. My thought process is just to play the best I can and to be positive. You know, I'm happy to have been here. Like we were saying, six or seven weeks of just trying to get myself together isn't a tremendous amount of time, but the fact that I can even compete and be in a position I wasn't sure I'd have a chance to be at again is more than enough.


Q. Looking at the state of women's tennis this year, who do you think are going to be your toughest competitors or challengers in Wimbledon 2011?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Everyone. I'm telling you, everyone's playing so hard. No one wants to go down. You get match point, doesn't matter, you got to really focus. Everyone's playing tough.


Q. Maybe a little bit lost in the fact that you haven't played since Wimbledon is that your sister's only played two tournaments since Wimbledon, and they happened to be two big ones. I was wondering if you were able to spend more time or less time with her than if you had been on the tour on a full time basis?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, we spent a lot more time together because we both were off. We both haven't played pretty much at all. And, uhm, yeah, it's been good because, you know sometimes I hate to say it but when you're down, it's always good to see someone down with you (laughter).

And she was down with me. I was like, Ha ha. Maybe we'll come back together.


Q. At what moment were you most bored out of your mind?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, there wasn't a dull moment at all. We haven't had any dull or bored moments.


Q. You described yourself as feeling you were on your death bed literally. Were you afraid for your life at various points?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Actually, I wasn't. I was really calm. I was just more concerned about my parents and stuff.

But I really felt fine. I felt like, you know, I was I felt like even though I was in a life threatening situation, uhm, in an extremely serious situation, had it not been addressed straightaway, I felt like, I don't know, this calm came over here. Like I just wanted to be strong more than anything.


Q. When you got seeded, did you know what to expect as far as how they were going to seed you and did you have any problems with where you were seeded?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't know. I don't ask for much. I don't expect much. The only thing I expect is what I can give myself and what I do for myself.

I would have been fine seeded where my ranking is because all my life I've worked extremely hard for everything, and that's not gonna happen. That's not gonna stop today; that's not gonna stop tomorrow. I'm going to continue to work hard. To me, whatever, it doesn't matter.


Q. What have you learned most through your health struggles?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I've learned that health is key, and there's nothing better than being healthy. I also learned that, you know, I feel like I have a lot you know, things build character in people. Overcoming certain obstacles, overcoming being down match point as opposed to overcoming something else is two totally different things.

Life is too short, so have a drink. I'm just kidding (laughter).


Q. You've had so much success here. Does it sort of feel strange coming in without the confidence that you would have had in previous years?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it doesn't. Uhm, I definitely do think I have confidence. But, uhm, I'm just taking it a match at a time.


Source

Serena terrasse Aravane

Le 21/06/2011 à 15:56 | Mis à jour le 21/06/2011 à 16:04

Aravane Rezaï a bien résisté (6-3, 3-6, 6-1) à Serena Williams. Surbmergée par l'émotion, l'Américaine rejoint Simona Halep au deuxième tour.

Aravane Rezaï aime les grands courts et affronter les grandes championnes. Malgré d'énormes soucis personnels, elle sait se transcender pour honorer un grand rendez-vous. Sur le Centre Court, elle est gâtée avec la tenante du titre, la grande Serena Williams. Dans ce contexte, le mental prend le pas sur le reste. Les complexes, elle ne connaît pas. L'adversité, elle connaît très bien. Et elle illustre à merveille le fameux « rien à perdre ». L'Américaine ne bénéficie pas de son ascendant psychologique. La Française n'a pas peur et lui répond du tac au tac en termes de qualité de frappe. Mais l'Américaine est immense, s'impose (6-3, 3-6, 6-1) et finit en larmes. Les deux reviennent de loin.

Pudiquement, on appelle ce genre de match, une rencontre décousue (22 fautes directes pour Aravane Rezaï, 18 pour Serena Williams). Quand deux convalescentes, Serena Williams et Aravane Rezaï se rencontrent, les hauts tutoient les bas. Quand deux frappeuses de leur dimension s'affrontent, les temporisations sont aussi fréquentes que le soleil cette semaine à Londres. Encore juste physiquement, elles choisissent logiquement la filière courte (22 points gagnants pour Aravane Rezaï, 24 pour son adversaire). Sur le Centre Court, le refrain tourne en boucle : WIP ! CLIP ! CRAP ! BANG ! VLOP !

Serena submergée par l'émotion
La Française et l'Américaine compensent leur manque d'ajustement par une volonté d'agression permanente. Sans complexe, Aravane Rezaï est la première à frapper fort avec un break d'entrée, mais la tenante du titre riposte avec cinq jeux d'affilée. Mais la 61e mondiale ne renonce jamais. Elle en a vu d'autres. Serena Williams tient grâce à son service et quand il la trahit, les solutions manquent et la Tricolore prend crânement sa chance. Au fil des minutes, elle joue de mieux en mieux, prend de vitesse la tenante du titre pour breaker à 3-2 et boucler le set.

Mais il faut tenir et la Tricolore n'a plus l'habitude d'une telle intensité physique et mentale. En joueuse d'expérience, Serena Williams cherche des zones plus sûres et s'appuie sur son excellente première balle (61%, 13 aces). Aravane Rezaï ne répond plus. Mais elle quitte le Centre Court avec les honneurs et voit l'Américaine submergée par l'émotion. Dans le temple du tennis, elle est redevenue joueuse de tennis. Victime d'une embolie pulmonaire, elle revient de loin. Et ses larmes illustrent bien le combat d'une immense championne

www.lequipe.fr

Wimbledon - Serena en a pleuré

21/06 20h01

Serena Williams a versé de chaudes larmes après sa victoire sur Aravane Rezaï mardi à Wimbledon.

«Je ne pensais pas jouer ici. C'est fantastique ! Je n'ai pas l'habitude de pleurer de joie», a commenté Serena Williams après sa victoire contre Aravane Rezaï, mardi au premier tour de Wimbledon. L’ancienne n°1 mondiale, double tenante du titre au All England Club, a fondu en larmes sur sa chaise après sa victoire contre la Française. Accrochée par son adversaire dans le 2e set, Williams a avoué s'être accrochée en se répétant «c'est Wimbledon, c'est Wimbledon...». De retour sur le circuit la semaine dernière à Eastbourne, l'Américaine n'avait pas rejoué depuis sa victoire à Londres en 2010.

www.sport24.com

S. Williams - first round
S. Williams bt A Rezai 6 3, 3 6, 6 1

Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Q. What were your emotions at the end of that match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, uhm, I didn't expect to have any emotions. I just expected to, you know, walk off. But I was pretty excited. I just thought about all the things that was happening, me not being here. Wasn't necessarily expecting to come to Wimbledon this year. Making it and winning was pretty cool.


Q. What made your decision to come here?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I was healthy. I got a healthy report from the doctor. You know, I love Wimbledon. And being out for so long really, really is unfortunate. I love playing tennis. I love being a part of the competition.

So I thought if I could make it, I'll try to do my best. And that's what I did.


Q. Do you feel like you appreciate it more now, the tennis? Maybe you took it a little bit for granted before?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I definitely don't feel that way. I feel like I've never taken it for granted 'cause I fight and won everything. Each and every point, each and every moment I enjoy and I relish. I, you know, enjoy the battle.

I would say it's just almost the same.


Q. Did you feel anything different today heading out there, or was it more that it really hit you at the end of the match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It definitely hit me at the end of the match. I'm not a cryer, so I don't know. I think it was something in my eyes at one point, but...

It definitely was so emotional for me because, you know, throughout the last 12 months, I've been through, you know, a lot of things that's not normal, things you guys don't even know about. So it's just been a long, arduous road. To stand up still is pretty awesome.


Q. Would you say you played better or much better than you expected? She was a tough cookie today.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, I don't think I played well. I didn't say that. I said I was, you know, happy to get the win.

I could have done a lot of things. I had a lot of unforced errors. You know, it was all about going out there and doing what I could under a lot of pressure.


Q. You've talked about the road you've been on. Maybe Monica has had a near death experience like you describe. Must be pretty daunting. What have you learned from that experience?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I just learned that, you know, you can never take any moment for granted. You know, I really was really trying to draw spiritually on my God Jehovah who I've really been trying to get a closer relationship to.

I've been doing so much just to try to appreciate every moment. When things happen, you appreciate people that are around you or people that may not be around you.

It's eye opening as well as it makes you really tough, I think.


Q. How does it compare to some of the other experiences you've had in Kenya or at the port in Ghana?
SERENA WILLIAMS: This one stands out because it's my own struggle and my own battle, and everything else has been really cool and really amazing. This was just something that I have to overcome. And I'm still overcoming every day.

This isn't the end of the road; it's just the beginning.


Q. Of all the times you've gotten emotional after a match in your whole career, how would you compare today?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think my first time, maybe when I won the US Open way back in '99. I think I got a little emotional then, but not really.

So this was probably the most emotional I've gotten after a match, after a win. You know, and to be a first round, I never really get super, super excited. But for me it wasn't about winning the match. It was about being out there. Everyone that has had some troubles, whether it be health, whether it be something else, to realize that you can do it.

You know, you just have faith. If you believe in yourself, you just continue to fight and never give up. I always preach, you know, Never give up, never give up. I finally was in a position that I could have gave up, I couldn't have came here, I could have sat home and said, I've had a fabulous career. I don't have to work extra, extra hard now.

But it just really goes to show if you don't give up, you still have a chance.


Q. What did you prove to yourself today?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I don't know what I proved to myself today. Well, I guess I proved that I could, that I could. I think that sums it up: I could. If I could get through that, I could.


Q. You had a strap on your back.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm pretty much taped up everywhere (laughter).

No, it's a taping technique that provides warmth kind of thing, thingy. It's nothing serious.


Q. Do you hold the restaurant where the incident took place culpable?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No. At the end of the day, they can't do anything for me. I can't do anything for them. There's absolutely nothing that can be done. I don't really dwell on the past. What can I do? What can they do?


Q. You come from a litigious culture. You've lost $6.5 million potentially that you could have earned as the result of the negligence. I mean, what was the restaurant called?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Honestly, I don't know the name. I can tell you, I've never been like that. I've never been like a greedy person. I've been sued before. It was a terrible feeling. I would never want to put anyone through that. It was what it was.


Q. You said before the match that your mother was worried about your health. Can you relieve her now?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I felt pretty good physically out there. So now I just got to get a little more consistent and stuff.


Q. You said before the game you felt better than ever. How do you feel right now physically? How much do you think it's taken out of you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I actually think maybe I'm hoping I'll play better, because I also had the I don't want to lose in the first round of a Grand Slam kind of thing going on, too. Now I feel like I can take a deep breath. I've been practicing better than I played today, so hopefully I can get back to doing the right thing.


Q. Are you a contender for this title?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think everyone who is still in the tournament is potentially a contender for the title.


Q. After what you faced off the court, is there anything on the court that can faze you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I wouldn't necessarily want to face Nadal at the French Open. That would drive me insane, so...


Q. You looked very stylish today in your outfit. Last year at Wimbledon it was strawberries and cream inspired. What was the thinking behind today?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, today the inspiration was to be classic. So I kind of took classic lines and brought it to tennis with a cardigan as well as the dress. So it just has a simple line up the center. I added go days in the front to add just a little bit of flow. It reminded me of something you would have seen in like the '60s. I love it. It's so feminine. It's almost like a little baby doll. I really think it's cute.


Q. And the black pom poms?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It's blue. It's actually blue and white. I went all white this year, so yeah.


Q. When you fly now on the airline, do you have to take any precautions before you fly after the illness you had?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. I wear these socks that aren't very attractive, and I have to take some medicine before I take a long flight.


Q. Injection, too?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I take an injection before I fly. It's okay.


Q. Were you nervous going out? You lost those first two games kind of quickly. Was that nerves as much as anything or rust?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it was a little bit of not playing. I don't think I was so nervous. I don't think I was that nervous. I think I got a little tight. Not necessarily nervous.

The difference between nervous and tight, I got always tight in the second set. Other than that, it was just me not, you know, being on my A game.


Q. Do you have a cold?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. But I'm trying to overcome that, too (laughter).


Q. You recently said during this struggle at your low moments you cried, were very depressed. In your book you were very open how when you were upset before, when you were coming back from your surgery, you went to outside counseling. How did you overcome your depression?
SERENA WILLIAMS: This time I was definitely more spiritual and I thought that was a better way for me to do it. It couldn't have made me more, you know, happy and just content.


Q. This was a very unusual day that you described. How do you think you'll look back at today?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think I'll always be happy about it, no matter what. And I think I'll be like, Okay, I did that. Now I can have a baby, which I'm just kidding (laughter). That's even more painful and more hard than what I've done. I haven't quite accomplished everything.


Q. Between you and Venus, who is in better physical shape right now?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I don't know. I think we're both really fit. I think Venus, obviously, she's always fit. We both worked hard right there next to each other. She was next door. I looked a little out of the side of my eye. Saw her working hard. So, yeah.


Q. Have you always been spiritual?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I've always been, or tried to be. A lot of shortcomings. I am not perfect. I'm human.


Q. What American athlete would you compare, attention wise, to the attention that Andy Murray draws these two weeks here? Would it be like A Rod?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, no. I would probably say, like, the Miami Heat.


Q. That could be seen as negative.
SERENA WILLIAMS: No. C'mon, they're amazing. They're good. We're going to win next year.


Q. What is your take on LeBron?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I love LeBron. He's a great guy. He's an awesome athlete.


Q. Do you think there's something about this venue that caused this in you? Do you think this could have happened in Australia or New York? Do you think it's Centre Court, coming out, the defending champion?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Definitely all that. I think this venue was particular, because definitely Centre Court, defending champion, and it's Wimbledon. It doesn't get bigger than this.

Source

Wimbledon (F) : Serena s’explique

mercredi 22 juin 2011 - 08h45

Très émue après sa victoire en trois manches au premier tour du tournoi de Wimbledon face à Aravane Rezaï, Serena Williams a expliqué sa réaction.

Des victoires, Serena Williams en a connu des tas à Wimbledon. Mais ce premier tour face à Aravane Rezaï avait quelque chose de singulier pour l’Américaine, quadruple lauréate de ce tournoi du Grand Chelem et qui n’a pas joué pendant près d’un an après avoir été victime d’une embolie pulmonaire en février dernier. « J'aime le tennis, a-t-elle confié au micro de Canal+ encore en pleurs. Revenir ici, c'est magnifique. C'est la première fois que je pleure de joie. » D’autant que ce match face à la Française n’a pas été si facile : « Il y a un moment où je n'étais pas très bien dans le deuxième set. Elle jouait très bien. C'est vraiment un soulagement d’avoir conclu ainsi le troisième set. »

www.sport365.fr

Wimbledon (F) : S. Williams au 3e tour

Le 23/06/2011 à 15:05 | Mis à jour le 23/06/2011 à 15:27



Bousculée en début de match, Serena Williams a su remettre les choses au point face à Simona Halep.

Bousculée mais pas coulée. Voilà le modus operandi de Serena Williams depuis le début du tournoi. L'Américaine lâche encore un set en route jeudi, après celui perdu au premier tour contre Rezaï, mais la tenante du titre se reprend afin de dominer la Roumaine Simona Halep (3-6, 6-2, 6-1). Tout n'est pas parfait - et c'est logique - mais sa volonté est toujours n°1 mondiale donc Serena Williams garde le cap.

Il faut dire que son adversaire du jour confirme sa bonne dynamique 2011 : une belle longueur de balle, un vrai talent de contreuse et une première balle efficace qui perturbent l'ex patronne du circuit. Lente sur sa mise en route, le retour de service en berne et le déplacement limite, Williams a eu besoin d'un set pour rentrer dans le match et dicter les échanges. Elle ne peut jouer que comme ça de toute manière. Dès qu'elle se retrouve contrainte de défendre, on sent que physiquement elle n'est pas encore revenue à son meilleur niveau.

Serena souffre mais ne lâche rien

Elle le sait bien alors elle prend les devants et frappe la première. En ajustant un peu le petit jeu de jambes, la voilà plus vite sur la balle. En se concentrant encore un peu plus, elle lit aussi mieux les trajectoires de balle. En un set, elle prend la mesure de l'adversaire et s'adapte, toujours le poing serré et le ''Come on''rageur. Jusqu'où peut-elle aller ici ? Ils sont beaucoup à croire l'exploit possible, mais il resteencore difficile de savoir si elle a la caisse pour tenir deux semaines. Peut-être pas en lâchant un set à chaque fois. Mais Williams, titrée à quatre reprises à Londres, est toujours dans le tournoi et cela suffit pour que le reste des rivales dorment un peu moins bien la nuit.

www.lequipe.fr

Wimbledon (F) : S. Williams en colère

Le 23/06/2011 à 19:44 | Mis à jour le 23/06/2011 à 20:01

Serena Williams n'aime pas jouer sur le court 2 à Wimbledon et s'étonne qu'elle et sa soeur Venus y soient régulièrement programmées au fil des ans. Et ce contrairement aux stars de l'ATP.

Elle n'est pas de retour sur le circuit depuis longtemps et elle n'est plus n°1 mondiale mais Serena Williams n'entend pas pour autant faire profil bas. Comme il y a quelques saisons et comme déjà évoqué par sa soeur Venus, l'Américaine s'étonne de se voir programmée sur le court 2 de Wimbledon. Serena garde d'ailleurs une dent sur l'ancien court 2, surnommé le cimetère : «je détestais ce court !». Elle n'aime donc pas beaucoup plus son remplaçant.

«Visiblement ils aiment nous faire jouer sur le 2 Venus et moi. Pour je ne sais quelle raison d'ailleurs. Je n'ai toujours pas compris pourquoi mais peut-être qu'un jour j'y arriverais. Je n'en fais pas une maladie, je ne pense pas que ce soit dramatique mais peut-être finalement que je devrais. Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray ou encore Roddick ne vont jamais plus loin que le court 1. Au moins il y a aussi le Hawk-Eye sur le 2 maintenant.», a ainsi confié l'Américaine, titrée à quatre reprises à Londres, à la presse après sa victoire du deuxième tour.

Wimbledon nie une arrière-pensée

Le porte-parole du tournoi s'est également expliqué. «Je ne pense pas que ce soit délibéré. Etablir un programme est quelque chose de compliqué, chacun le regarde avec son point de vue donc elle a le droit d'avoir son opinion.»

La programmation n'a pas été épargnée depuis le début entre les reproches de Nadal qui a joué sur le central mercredi toit fermé alors qu'il ne pleuvait pas, la non diffusion de certains matches sur les écrans géants, ou encore le match Mahut - Isner envoyé sur le court 3. En attendant, Serena Williams devrait peut-être prendre sur elle vis-à-vis d'une organisation qui lui a donné le n°7 dans les têtes de série malgré son année loin des courts.

www.lequipe.fr

Wimbledon: Pas de 10e titre pour les Williams

Tennis - Pour la première fois depuis 2006, le titre de Wimbledon échappera aux soeurs Williams.
Double tenante du titre, Serena Williams (no 7) s'est logiquement inclinée 6-3 7-6 (8/6) en 1h57' face à Marion Bartoli (no 9) au stade des 8es de finale. Son aînée Venus (no 23), qui avait été sacrée en 2007 et 2008 à Londres, a quant à elle été dominée 6-2 6-3 par la Bulgare Tsvetana Pironkova (no 32). Les deux soeurs avaient glané neuf des onze derniers titres à Church Road.
Serena Williams, qui a effectué son retour à la compétition il y a deux semaines après quasiment une année d'absence, n'a pas su profiter de la nervosité affichée en fin de match par Marion Bartoli. Elle écartait avec panache quatre balles de match, trois à la relance à 6-3 6-5 puis une sur son service à 6/5 dans le jeu décisif, mais ne pouvait rien faire sur la cinquième. Marion Bartoli, qui a su prendre son adversaire à la gorge dans cette rencontre, armait alors un service gagnant.

Swissinfo.ch

S. Williams - fourth round

S. Williams def. by M. Bartoli 3-6, 6-7

Monday, 27 June 2011

Q. One of the most dominant servers in the game for many years. Bartoli was playing five, six feet inside the baseline. What was going on there? Was it a surprise?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Really? I didn't see her. When I serve, I don't look at my opponent. I always look down. So I was unaware of that actually.

Q. Concerning the circumstances, you've only played two tournaments since last year, does this kind of come as a surprise or you felt like it was always a possibility?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I never came here thinking I would lose. That's, you know, my attitude. You know, you win some and you lose some. Today just happened to be the one that slipped under me.

Q. With all that you've endured since last year's Wimbledon, how do you look upon what you did do here in your return?

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I think I did really well, you know, just being able to come back and play and win some matches, uhm, and just really play tough. Even today I lost, but I was able to kind of hang in there and play tough.

And I can only get better. And that can potentially be really scary, because I can only go up from here and I can just do so much more.

Q. After only being back for two weeks, already playing at such a high level, does it make you excited for the U.S. hard court season?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It does. I haven't played on the hard court in what feels like years. It's clearly my favourite surface. I really look forward to it. Just looking forward to playing out there. It's going to be cool.

Q. She's kind of a quirky player, Bartoli, in the way she prepares for points and everything like that. Does that make it harder to get a rhythm?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I really focus on me out there. I rarely see my opponent. Often I look up and have to wonder, look at the score to see who I'm playing. That's how focused I am on me out there.

So I don't see any of this.

Q. When you hit the backhand return winner to get the break going into the tiebreak, did you feel like finally you seized some momentum and were playing a little better?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I felt at that point that I would be naturally just fighting for the tiebreak. I definitely felt way off today, like I missed so many shots.

But, you know, it was what it was.

Q. She seemed to be zinging balls into the corners pretty well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: She played well. She should always play like this, and she would be in the top five at minimum. It's like, Wow, where is this player throughout the rest of the year?

Q. Venus is struggling out there. Do you think it's tougher for one or the other of you to play after the other has lost, especially the big sister/little sister thing?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. If Venus loses, I actually get a little angrier and play even better. I was hoping she would be able to do that. Hopefully she will. It's not over yet.

Q. Have the doctors cleared you to play as much as you want when you want, or have they told you you should kind of keep to a certain level of tournaments?

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I don't know. I'm going to ask. That's a good question. I didn't ask that question. So I think I should be okay, though. And, uhm, I think I should be fine.

The doctor said that I can train as much as I want to. So maybe that means play, as well.

Q. What do you feel like you were missing today? Rhythm? Feel? Speed?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, a little feel. I felt like I missed a tremendous amount of shots out, which is better than into the net. That's a start.

I thought, Okay, at least it's going out. Sooner or later it will go in. And then I just was a little off today. Usually, uhm, I can come back and do a little bit better.

But, uhm, unfortunately I didn't.

Q. You haven't lost here I think since 2008 in the singles.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Okay.

Q. What would you say to those who question whether this is the end of an era in terms of the Williams sisters' dominance?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. Like, I'm still here. I plan on doing better.

Q. In terms of plans, you're going to be heading off in a while to the US Open, where you haven't won in a little while. Do you think Serena Williams will win the US Open?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I'm not going to go there thinking I'm going to lose, so...

Q. You came into this tournament with high expectations of yourself but a lot of unknowns. Did you feel extra pressure that you put on yourself coming into the second week? What was the mentality coming in here?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Really, my mentality was just to do the best that I could and just continue that. And today I tried to do well. And I think Marion played really well. Clearly she played really well.

The thing is, I just feel like I can do a lot better, which would really suck if I was here thinking, wow, I played my best and that was the best that I could do.

Q. Did you get more frustrated on the court because you'd gotten to this point and you didn't know what was going to happen at the start of the tournament?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. If anything, I was more frustrated that I was missing. I wasn't thinking about anything else.

Q. When you saved those match points, how much did that energize you? What sort of feeling does that carry with you going forward?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It definitely energized me a lot. I felt really good. And I just felt like, you know, I could do it at that point.

I felt like I could come back. No matter what, when I lose a first set, I'm automatically planning on what I'm going to do in the third set, not even the second.

So I never doubted myself. I just thought, Okay, I'm just going to win these couple points and pull out the tiebreaker, which didn't quite happen.

Q. Looking back on your singles tournament as a whole, do you think you were ready to come and play at Wimbledon?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I definitely think I was ready. I think that, uhm, I would have been sad being at home watching it on TV, like I'm going to be soon.

But, uhm, regardless, you know, I made an effort to get out here and play a couple tournaments. I just can't sit here and be overall disappointed because, you know, I had no plans of coming here before, so... For the most part, I can just use this as momentum going forward.

Q. Does this fire you up even more for next year when you come back?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, absolutely. Next year I'll have less things to worry about. I didn't do so well this year, so I have no points to defend. It will just be good.

Q. On a scale of 1 to 10 in this year, how would you rank the whole Wimbledon experience?

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, it's pretty high up there because I really think that I did, considering my condition I was in, considering a lot of things, I really feel I did well as a player. I mean, for myself, I obviously would love to do better.

But, you know, at the end of the day I think I did pretty good.

Q. A month ago when you came back, over the last three weeks, did the doctors and trainers say you could practice as intensely as you did before the injury and the illness?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. They said I could do whatever I wanted to do, obviously within reason. But, yeah, everything.

Q. When you get back home, the practice routine is going to be as intense as you want it to be; there's no worries that you have to stop after three or four hours?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it will probably be even more intense because I practiced harder here than I did even coming here.

You know, it will be more intense, which actually is going to give me a better chance in future tournaments.

Q. A lot of people would say if you come here after the best part of the year out of the game and walked away with the title, it wouldn't necessarily have been a good thing for women's tennis. Can you appreciate that? Does this result show it's competitive still?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm super happy that I lost. Go, women's tennis.

Q. What is your summer schedule? Do you know where you're going to play next before the Open?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Probably play a few matches in TeamTennis, get a few matches. I'm going to try to play a tournament in California, a few other places. I don't know.

Q. We were told you are going to play an exhibition match in Italy in December, you and your sister, versus Schiavone and Pennetta. Is that true?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Sounds like a delicious idea, and I love Italy and Milano. Could be some truth to that (smiling).

Q. We've seen you here after losses absolutely devastated before. You're not happy now, but you're not the same devastated loser that we would see in the past. Is that because of expectations, because of where you've been this last year?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm more devastated than ever. I'm just a really good actress. I'm a much better actress now.


Source

US Open - S. Williams tête de série ?

Le 20/07/2011 à 21:24

Serena Williams, qui a reculé en un an à la 172e place au classement WTA en raison de blessures, a demandé de bénéficier d'un classement protégé à l'US Open. Cette manoeuvre, qu'elle peut faire pour huit tournois, devrait lui permettre de participer au quatrième et dernier Grand Chelem de la saison. Elle devrait être tête de série.

www.lequipe.fr

Stanford - S. Williams déroule

Le 27/07/2011 à 05:00 | Mis à jour le 27/07/2011 à 08:02

Serena Williams a fait forte impression pour son entrée dans le tournoi de Stanford mardi soir. L'Américaine n'a fait aucun détail face à l'Australienne Anastasia Rodionova, à qui elle n'a laissé aucun jeu (6-0, 6-0). Au prochain tour, elle rencontrera la Russe Maria Kirilenko qui est venue à bout de l'Allemande Julia Goerges (6-2, 6-3), pourtant tête de série n°6. La Serbe Ana Ivanovic est également tombée, face à la Japonaise Ayumi Morita (6-3, 7-5).

www.lequipe.fr

Serena rêve de grandeur

Le 27/07/2011 à 10:30 | Mis à jour le 27/07/2011 à 10:56



Serena Williams, victorieuse de son premier tour à Stanford, ne pense qu'à une chose : retrouver sa gloire passée. Le dossard n°1, pourquoi pas, mais surtout les titres du Grand Chelem.

On ne change pas une championne. Encore moins une comme Serena Williams. De retour à Eastbourne après quasiment un an d'absence, l'Américaine - désormais 169e joueuse mondiale, n'a pas digéré sa défaite en huitièmes de finale à Wimbledon. Elle veut retrouver la gloire, et vite. Après avoir étrillé (6-0, 6-0) l'Australienne Anastasia Rodionova au premier tour du tournoi de Stanford, l'ex patronne du circuit n'a rien caché de ses ambitions.

«Je veux revenir au sommet. Et je n'ai aucune patience. Alors oui peut-être que tout ça justement va m'apprendre à le devenir un peu. Redevenir n°1 mondiale n'est pas le plus important en fait, même si ce serait génial. Moi ce que je veux c'est vraiment réussir dans les tournois du Grand Chelem.»

Et pour cela une seule solution : le travail. «J'étais très déçue après Wimbledon, même si je n'aurais pas dû. Alors je suis repartie tout de suite à l'entraînement. Je n'avais pas mérité de prendre quelques jours de repos. Je ne me suis pas entraînée dans l'avion du retour alors on va dire que c'était ma pause. Si je ne crois pas en moi, en ma capacité de revenir et de gagner,... Je pense que si je me concentre sur ce que j'ai à faire je peux y arriver. J'ai toujours dit que lorsque je suis à mon meilleur niveau personne ne peut me battre alors je dois juste retrouver ce niveau. J'espère que je vais y arriver, ce serait fantastique.» On a souvent dit qu'à Serena Williams, rien n'était impossible. On devrait donc vite savoir si les temps ont changé.

www.lequipe.fr

Stanford: Serena Williams sort Kirilenko

Créé le 29/07/2011 - 07:26

Au lendemain de sa victoire expéditive contre Anastasia Rodionova (6-0, 6-0), Serena Williams a davantage bataillé pour se défaire d'une autre Russe, Maria Kirilenko, 25e joueuse mondiale. L'Américaine, de retour depuis Wimbledon, s'est toutefois qualifiée pour les quarts de finale ,s'imposant 6-2 3-6 6-2. Ses retrouvailles avec Maria Sharapova en quarts de finale seront très attendues...

www.sports.fr

Stanford - Williams en trombe

Le 30/07/2011 à 08:52 | Mis à jour le 30/07/2011 à 09:19



C'était un choc qui sentait la poudre. Les retrouvailles entre Serena Williams et Maria Sharapova s'annonçaient comme le point d'orgue des quarts de finale à Stanford. Las ! Sur ses terres, l'Américaine s'est montrée impériale et n'a laissé aucune chance à la blonde tsarine. Williams, qui poursuit son retour sur le circuit, s'est imposée en deux petits sets (6-1, 6-3) en un peu plus d'une heure de jeu.

L'Américaine, victorieuse de ses six dernières confrontations avec la Russe, a rassuré son monde avec ses services bien distribués et ses puissantes frappes de fond de court. Elle rencontrera l'Allemande Sabine Lisicki en demi-finale. «Je suis juste en train de bosser très dur pour revenir dans le top 100, a expliqué la 169e joueuse mondiale au micro du speaker. Je passe au 162e rang maintenant, c'est un peu fou, mais bon, en croisant les doigts ...»

www.lequipe.fr

Stanford - Serena dépose Sharapova

30/07/2011 - 08:34

Vidéo

Il a fallu un peu plus d'une heure de jeu à Serena Williams pour dominer Maria Sharapova en quarts de finale de Stanford (6-1, 6-3). L'explication entre les deux ex-N.1 mondiales a tourné court en raison de la défaillance de la Russe sur ses engagements et de la motivation retrouvée de l'Américaine.

On appelle ça une mise à l'amende. Serena Williams a attendu son troisième tournoi de la saison pour véritablement signer son retour sur le circuit WTA en mettant au pas Maria Sharapova en quarts de finale du tournoi de Stanford (6-1, 6-3). L'Américaine, triple vainqueur de l'US Open (1999, 2002 et 2008) n'avait plus fait si forte impression face à la Russe depuis quatre bonnes années. Il faut remonter au tournoi de Miami en mars 2007 pour retrouver trace d'une gifle aussi marquante entre les deux championnes (6-1, 6-1). A cette époque, Sharapova était N.2 mondiale, mais Serena était déjà revenue en force, après une saison 2006 tronquée, en s'adjugeant l'Open d'Australie face à la même joueuse, complètement emportée par la fougue de son adversaire en finale (6-1, 6-2).

Cette année, Serena Williams a beau pointer à une 169e place indigne de son talent, l'actuelle 5e place mondiale de la Russe n'a pas pesé bien lourd. En cause, une mise en jeu mise à mal. La demi-finaliste de Roland-Garros et finaliste de Wimbledon a été complètement mangée sous les retours saillants de son adversaire. Avec, en plus, 7 doubles fautes à son actif, Maria n'a remporté que 19 points sur ses mises en jeu sur 46. Elle se lançait même tardivement dans la partie en réussissant son premier coup gagnant après huit premières fautes directes.

Sharapova: "Ce n'était certainement pas ma soirée"

Après un tel départ, la Russe a été incapable de rattraper le fossé ainsi creusé, laissant encore un peu derrière elle sa dernière victoire sur Serena, lors de la finale des Masters féminins en 2004. "J'ai bien démarré la partie", a commenté Serena. "Vous ne pouvez pas affronter la cinquième joueuse du classement mondial si vous vous dispersez. Il faut être sérieux. C'est une grande victoire pour la saison sur dur". "Ce n'était certainement pas ma soirée", a avoué Sharapova. "Elle servait et frappait la balle si bien que j'étais très lente dans mes réactions. Je me suis sentie molle. C'était un mauvais jour mais cela me rappelle aussi que je dois progresser".

Au prochain tour, l'Américaine affronte Sabine Lisicki, vainqueur de la Polonaise Agnieszka Radwanska (7-6, 2-6, 6-2) en quarts de finale. "Passer de l'herbe aux courts sur dur est un sacré challenge, assure l'Allemande 26e mondiale récente demi-finaliste à Wimbledon. (...) J'aime les grands matches. Je suis impatiente de jouer ce match." Sabine Lisicki va être servie face à Serena Williams qui n'a encore jamais remporté ce tournoi californien.

www.eurosport.fr

Victoire et bond important pour Serena

Lundi 01 août 2011
ASSOCIATED PRESS



LONDRES - Serena Williams a effectué un retour parmi les 100 meilleures joueuses au classement féminin après avoir remporté son premier titre en plus d'un an à Stanford, dimanche.

L'ancienne no 1 mondiale s'est hissée à la 79e position, un bond de 90 rangs, après avoir vaincu Marion Bartoli 7-5, 6-1 en finale de la Classique Bank of the West. Il s'agissait de son premier titre dans un tournoi autre que le Grand Chelem depuis 2009.

Williams a été contrainte à l'inactivité pendant presque un an à la suite d'une blessure à un pied et à une embolie pulmonaire. Incapable de défendre son titre à Wimbledon, elle a glissé jusqu'au 175e rang mondial, son plus mauvais classement en 14 ans.

L'Américaine de 29 ans prend une semaine de congé avant de disputer la Coupe Rogers à Toronto la semaine prochaine en guise de préparation aux Internationaux des États-Unis.

Le top-10 féminin n'a subi aucune modification, Caroline Wozniacki demeurant au sommet.

www.rds.ca

Toronto - S. Williams en huitièmes

Le 10/08/2011 à 23:36 | Mis à jour le 11/08/2011 à 00:03

Serena Williams poursuit sa route à Toronto. L'Américaine s'est qualifiée mercredi pour les huitièmes de finale aux dépens de l'Allemande Julia Goerges (6-1, 7-6[7]). Elle jouera désormais sa place en quarts de finale face à la Chinoise Jie Zheng tombeuse de Kim Clijsters, blessée.

Dans les autres rencontres, Galina Voskoboeva - issue des qualifications - a confirmé sa victoire sur Marion Bartoli en éliminant l'Italienne Flavia Pennetta (2-6, 6-3, 6-2). Kvitova, Stosur, Radwanska, Petkovic ou encore Safarova sont également passées.

www.lequipe.fr

Toronto - Serena Williams a lutté

Le 12/08/2011 à 08:22 | Mis à jour le 12/08/2011 à 08:40

Serena Williams s'est qualifié dans la douleur pour les quarts de finale du tournoi de Toronto aux dépens de Zheng Jie (4-6, 6-3, 6-3). L'Américaine retrouvera Lucie Safarova - qui a quant à elle dominé Francesca Schiavone (6-3, 6-3) - en quarts de finale.

www.lequipe.fr