Why Serena Williams isn't finished winning Grand Slams
Shockwaves reverberated around the grounds of Roland Garros for the third consecutive day. Another top seed is gone, but this one is the biggest yet.
Serena Williams, the world No. 1, fell in straight sets to Garbine Muguruza on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Her sister Venus also lost, ending hopes of an all-Williams encounter in the third round. Both sisters lost on the same day at a Grand Slam for the third time in history. It happened at Wimbledon in 2011 and at the French in 2008.
The way Serena lost was particularly shocking. She was broken five times in a 64-minute match. The 6-2, 6-2 defeat is the worst loss she's ever suffered at a major. She made 29 unforced errors and hit only nine winners. Williams served one more ace than her opponent, topping out at three.
Muguruza is no slouch, and at 20, she’s primed to become a star on the women’s tour. But this is Serena we’re talking about. Athletically she ranks among the best we've ever seen, across all sports. Mentally she’s even stronger, channeling her desire to win the biggest points in the biggest games in the biggest matches so often it looks easy.
It’s not, of course, and at 32, it’s even harder.
“This is what a 32-year-old Serena Williams looks like” was the common sentiment on Twitter. Yes, time waits for nobody, especially not in tennis. It’s jarring to see players like Serena and Li Na, who fell in the first round on Tuesday, struggle so early, when we’re accustomed to their presence in the finals of the big tournaments.
The next wave is coming. Muguruza, Simona Halep, Eugenie Bouchard, and Anna Schmiedlova, the player who beat Venus on Wednesday, have the bona fides. They’re hungry, they hit big, and most importantly, they know what playing on the biggest courts in the world entail.
Muguruza showed the maturity of a player far beyond her years, playing within herself while continuing to go for her shots. Serena couldn’t hit the court and the 20-year-old recognized that. When your opponent is hitting errors like they’re on sale, you don’t go big.
The Spaniard told reporters what was going through her head as she inched closer to the biggest result of her career. “OK, don’t lose your mind” takes on new meaning when its Serena across the court, the person Muguruza cited as her childhood idol.
Serena was benevolent in defeat, telling her no longer awestruck vanquisher that she can win the tournament if she continues to play this kind of ball.
When the pleasantries subsided, the conversation shifted back to Serena. She’s on the downswing of her career, yes, but writing off her future chances of winning silverware is shortsighted. She’s lost early in Grand Slams before only to come back stronger, faster, and more focused.
She won Wimbledon and the US Open following her first round loss at the French in 2012. She won the US Open last year after losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Time and time again Serena has responded to adversity like champions of her ilk do. Perspective is now an attribute that sets her apart from the rest.
“No, I'm really happy with myself. I feel great,” said Williams in her post-match press conference. “I mean, yeah. Obviously I'm super disappointed and, you know, it's hard. I worked really hard. But, hey—maybe I can do better. I know for a fact I can work harder.”
"I'm going to go home and work five times as hard so I'll never lose again,” concluded the five-time Wimbledon Champion, with a wry smirk directed at the press.
Do you doubt her?