Just as she dropped the first set to Sharapova in Miami, Serena did the same to Jankovic in the Charleston final. Just as she had been in Miami, Serena had been caught off-guard by her opponent’s great form and hurt by her own early malaise. However, just as she had in Miami, Serena came back to take the next two sets and defend her title.
It was in Charleston a year ago that it all started again for Serena. Stops and starts are a fitting way to describe the younger William’s career. Since Charleston ’12, Serena has won 9 titles. Her haul is made up of slams, Wimbledon and the US Open, the Olympic, the YEC, Premier titles in Madrid, Miami, Charleston, and Brisbane and an International title in Stanford. A more eclectic array you could not find. Blue clay, green clay, grass, hard court, indoors. It has one noticeable absentee, the red clay, and one imagines she will do whatever she can do check it present. It is a haul worthy of a number one player. It is as good as any of the Greats have mustered and as good as her 2002-03 haul where she was also the dominant player.
Back in 2003, we really thought we had found our next tennis Queen, a Seles, a Graf, a Navratilova. But an injury mind 2003 saw Serena off the court for nine months and it was not until the 2005 Australian Open that she lifted another Major trophy. Perhaps now, we thought. But more injuries and two more seasons passed before Serena won, again, in Melbourne in 2007. Well, now? we asked. No. We waited until the US Open 2008. And then it rained, poured even. Serena won The Australian Open 09 and 10, Wimbledon 09 and 10 and reclaimed the number 1. In July 2010, it was hard to envision anyone but her winning the US Open. But a piece of glass got in the way, lodging itself into her foot at a party and it was another year before Serena was back on court and another year before she was winning Slams again.
Since then, we have been treated to the number one the tour needs. A number one with slams and history and star quality. Since 2010, Wozniacki, Azarenka, Maria and Kim, ( maybe you blinked and missed her one week stint), have all held the top spot but none of them convinced. Serena on the other hand takes leading with conviction to a new level. Only injuries and the odd inspired moment by her opponents can stop her in her current state of mind. It is a state of mind we should all relish while we can. It might not come along again for a long time. Ask Serena. And if your not a fan, forget about whatever it is from the past that prejudices you, and I grant you there have been more than enough moments, and watch videos of her latest victories in Miami and Charleston, and even her losses in Melbourne and Doha, and see the poise, the calm, the fight and the very fine play. See it and enjoy it. After all, better late than never. You can ask Serena about that, too.
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