Wednesday, September 26, 2007
At 26, Serena at crossroads

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Serena Williams turned 26 on Wednesday. Are you shocked that she's reached such an advanced tennis age already? On the one hand, it's hardly surprising, because Serena seems to have been around the game forever, either dominating it or looming over it -- we've been watching the Williams sisters since they were preteens. On the other hand, her career seems strangely unfulfilled at this stage. I say "strangely," because it's hard to say that about a player who has won eight Grand Slams. Perhaps Bjorn Borg, who retired at 26, is the only other one who qualifies.

Then again, few players promised as much as Williams. She won the U.S. Open at 17 and completed her Serena Slam, when she held all four major titles, at 21. Just as impressive, she brought a level of power and aggression to the sport that put her miles ahead of the competition. If great players set the bar for future champions, Serena set it higher than most. The generation that has followed her -- Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Jelena Jankovic, et al. -- has yet to match it.

Along the way, the Williamses smashed through any color barriers that lingered in tennis and attracted people who had never watched the sport, or any sport, before. As the younger Williams once said after scanning a mob of people gathered around her, "Yep, got to get a look at Serena." The family, from father Richard on down, did it their own way, and they remain polarizing figures. What was the biggest story of this year's U.S. Open? If it hadn't been for Novak Djokovic's imitations, it would have been Serena saying that Justine Henin had hit a bunch of "lucky shots" to beat her.

Which brings us to the present. What should we think of Serena's career at this point? I've never begrudged her the ability to take months off, get out of shape, and come right back to win a major. John McEnroe hated practicing and working out, but this was just considered a sign of his "genius." The fact that Serena is instead credited as a great "athlete" tells you all you need to know about how black and white sports stars continue to be stereotyped today.

Still, Serena should be held to a higher standard, for her sake and ours. It's aggravating to watch a player perform below their ability on a regular basis. Seeing Serena look slow, sloppy and unprepared in losing to Henin at the Open, I felt like she was at a crossroads. This was the Belgian's third straight win over her at a Slam -- a woman had finally shown clear superiority over Serena. Now the question is, how will she react? Will she admit to herself that can't keep one foot in the game and still expect to roll over everyone? Will she give tennis, and Henin, her best next year? Serena should consider herself lucky to have the challenge: At 26, she has a chance to fulfill her tremendous potential -- and prove the world wrong -- all over again. ..........

:coffee: ... You do see some racial intones in that report anyway.... being american in its origin..not too surprising..... but it begs the question if Serena coming back from layoff... not much practise..and winning a slam is pure 'genius' or just luck or simply ' great'... So many other players player were not feverishly practising all the time..but some considered them as 'genius' at their game.... the stand out name as one commentator mentioned is John Mcenroe....

I think the Williams sisters add other things to the game and it is quite fair to have other interests...they are after all human...... their fame has only made them more personable..so we all feel we need to tell them what to do and what not to do... Federer's extra curricular activities for the sport like wise does som much for the men's Game...in terms of recorgnition.

And By the way...it would be nice if they start mentioning Justine as well in full... she is having such an impact on the women's game..and credit has to be given to her as well for being such an outstanding ambassador for the women's game....

She should consider herself lucky that she has had the oppurtunity and still does play all over the world.Many of us here would give anything to have such an oppurtunity. I for one cannot take this half attempted nature of hers towards something she "claims" she loves doing.

She needs to get her act together or it wont just be Henins supposed lucky shots that beat her but she will be beating herself on and off the court right out of tennis!

Utter b*ll*cks. The contrast is due to their different styles. Mac's was never a power game, nor was it orthodox, nor was he ever a sporting athlete.

Serena's game involved a lot of power and athleticism - exactly the qualities the writer commends her for advancing in the woman's game.

Sure, there's plenty of racism about, but there's nowt much more boring than bending over backwards to find it in the wrong place.

Agreed Barry. Sometimes people like to read racism somewhere where is simply doesn't exist. This is a very good example.

Double agreed. It is her type of style that means we often label her as an athlete...

On the other hand I agree with the article. She promised so much at age 21 with 6 slams and the non-consecutive Grand Slam. People thought she would be chasing THE records.

Things got in the way of course like the knee surgery, Yetunde etc. but still 8 slams is probably not enough despite these interruptions.

And true, the Williams' raised the bar when they came on the scene. Serena raised it again in 2002 to a level which I have yet to see matched and agree that though the depth of tennis has improved the top standard (bar Henin) has not.

Henin's wins show supremacy over her that only Venus and the JCap ever acheived. She managed to turn the tables around before but if she still beleive she is the number one (which I am sure she does), then she has to prove once again all the doubters wrong.

This is what I like about Tennis. Power is not everything despite the game becoming a very physical one. If one wants to become a great, he not only has to be a good player but an efficient one as well. By efficient I mean able to win within the his natural physical capabilities. I believe McEnroe played at a time where Talent alone was sufficient to make a mark. Nowadays, it is not enough. One needs talent, hard work and if one can play within his/her physical limits (Federer), then a real great player can emerge. Very very rare those breed.

Power/athleticism will give you success but if you only have that it is nowadays impossible to leave a lasting impression on the game.

I agree with the main premise of the article - with only the (possible) exception of Henin I don't believe that the quality of top women players has advanced from 2002-3.

In fact I think that the peak of those years created a sort of rain shadow effect in which the current 'stars' have been blundering about largely unimpressively. I was worried when Serena won AO that she would just be able to waltz back and pick up all the prizes on a part-time year. In a way I am glad that Henin's quality has prevented her from being able to do that - it lends more credibility to women's tennis IMHO.

I am sure that Serena has made this year more difficult for herself by believing firmly that she 'ought' to be No. 1 and beating Henin but not (for whatever reason) being in sufficient physical condition to make the best of her game. Venus, on the other hand, has been more easy-going and seems to have enjoyed her success much more and found her reverses easier to take.

I cannot believe that Serena will want another year like 2007 - if you expect of yourself to be the best (and she is still entitled to) you need to concentrate on nothing else but the sport and your physical shape. If she can do that there is no reason why she cannot have 3 more grandslam laden years. If not, then it would almost be better for all concerned if she called it a day.

I thought that she was going to end her career with all the records - it must be too late for that now, but a few more GS would surely be worth it.

ah serena, i've always been torn with her. was never one of her staunchest supporters. yet she grew on me over the years. the girl can play and when she doesn't want to play, boy does she not play. at the end of the day committment to tennis 100% all the time was clearly not serena's perference. i begrudging accept that as it's serena choice and right. but i don't think she's passed seles in the greatness debate.

I really have no clue where this girl will go from here...would she want to prove her doubters wrong nd once again think of dominating the game?That wouldn't be a far fetched idea but a girl named Henin is surely in her path.The girl has defeated her in 3 straight slams including one on her fav surface.Plus she's got AO and the Sony ericcson Tournies to defend...so who knows? Lets wait and watch.She's still only 26.Amelie found her groove only when she was 27.The girls a fighter.