Fighter Serena shows she is a born survivor
Fighter Serena shows she is a born survivor
She was born a fighter and on Saturday Serena Williams proved she is the ultimate survivor as she completed her "unbelievable
journey" from a pit of despair to win a fifth Wimbledon crown on
Saturday.
Seventeen months after a life-threatening blood clot in
her lungs almost ended her glittering tennis career, Williams blotted
out the mental and physical scars to climb back into the grand slam
winner's circle by snuffing out Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 5-7 6-2.
Almost everyone but those closest to her thought the
days when Williams would be holding aloft one of the four major trophies
were all but over.
But at the age of 30, the American, who grew up
practising on cracked public courts in Compton surrounded by drug
dealers and drive-by shootings, showed the world what she was still
capable of as she blazed a backhand winner to win her 14th grand slam
trophy.
It was little wonder she collapsed on to her back in
her moment of glory and still lying on the ground, she covered her face
for several seconds, no doubt thinking about all the injuries, illnesses
and surgery she has had to endure in the past two years.
"I can't even describe it. I almost didn't make it a
few years ago. I was in hospital but now I'm here again and it was so
worth it. I'm so happy," a beaming Williams, with her voice quivering,
told the crowd as she hugged the Venus Rosewater Dish.
"I never dreamt of being here again, being so down,"
added the American, whose tale of woe started when she sliced her foot
on a piece of glass in a Munich restaurant soon after winning her 13th
slam at Wimbledon in July 2010.
"I didn't give up (even when I had the clot). I was just so tired at that point.
"Gosh, right before that I had the blood clot, I had
lung problems. I had a tube in my stomach and it was draining
constantly.
"I had two foot surgeries. It was a lot. I just felt down, the lowest of lows."
On Saturday, she enjoyed the highest of the highs as
she matched her sister Venus's haul of five Wimbledon trophies by
becoming the first 30-something to win the title since Martina
Navratilova achieved the feat in 1990.
"Coming here and winning today is amazing because
literally last year I was ranked almost 200. It's been an unbelievable
journey for me," said the world number six.
That journey almost took a backward slide just four
weeks ago when Serena lost in the opening round of the French Open, the
first time she had exited so early from a grand slam tournament.
But just as many started writing Serena's tennis
obituary, she roared back to stop Radwanska from becoming the first
Polish grand slam winner.
Radwanska's title hopes had already looked rather bleak
as not only had she never won a set against Serena before, but as she
prepared for the biggest match of her career, she was already battling
respiratory problems which she blamed on the rain and blustery winds of
the non-existent British summer.
Saturday's damp, chilly and gloomy conditions on Centre
Court would have done little to lift Radwanska's mood and it was not
long before she was being blown away by a gale force named Serena.
As Serena moved within one point of blanking out Radwanska from the first set, it led one fan to tweet "this final will
be over before you can put a kettle on".
Radwanska could have done with a hot drink herself as
she sniffled and coughed during the changeovers and she got a chance to
warm her throat when the players were briefly forced off court at the
end of the first set when a slight drizzle started to fall.
The short respite did nothing to halt Serena's charge
as she steamed to a 4-2 lead. But just when it seemed that Serena would
be wrapping up one of the most one-sided Wimbledon finals, Radwanska's
game suddenly caught fire and she levelled for 4-4.
The 23-year-old Pole drew Serena into lengthy rallies
and when the American netted a backhand to surrender the second set, the
crowd erupted into wild applause.
Serena, though, is not one for cowering and one
49-second blitz summed up her intentions. She fired four thunderbolt
aces to win the fourth game of the third set, and from then on, her
opponent never got a look in.
Serena followed up her 102nd ace of the tournament with
a screaming service winner to bring up matchpoint, and seconds later it
was all over.
"I'm still shaking so much. I think I had the best two
weeks of my life. She was too good today, but I'm just so happy to be
here in the final. I think it was not my day but I'll try again next
year," a sobbing Radwanska said during the presentation ceremony.
While Serena was off to celebrate her triumph, Roger
Federer could strike a double blow for the 30-somethings if he overcomes
British hope Andy Murray in the men's final on Sunday.
A Serena-Federer triumph would mean it would be the
first time since 1975 when both Wimbledon singles titles have been won
by the over 30s.
Jonathan Marray kicked off what could be a weekend of
national euphoria for British tennis when he became the first home
player since 1936 to win the Wimbledon men's doubles title with Danish
partner Frederik Nielsen.
Just a day before near-namesake Murray hopes to end
Britain's 76-year wait for a men's singles champion, wildcards Marray
and Nielsen sent the Centre Court crowd into a frenzy after downing
fifth seeds Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau 4-6 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-3.
