World number one Serena Williams was extended to three sets by Sabine Lisicki today at the Miami Open 76 16 63. Today’s quarterfinal win was also the 700th match win in Serena’s near two decade career.
The WTA and Miami Open presented Serena with a nice chocolate cake after the match (which I watched in the press box with Harry Cicma, above photo, and Peter Bodo). But Serena wasn’t in much of a mood to celebrate. Right after Serena defeated Sabine, I went to play some singles with my photographer friend Tony.
While we were playing, we noticed that Patrick Mouratoglou was hitting next to us with a couple of guys I didn’t recognize. They were cracking the ball well. My ears only registered one comment by Patrick – “She’s still being interviewed by Mary Joe.”
I guess that meant Serena was late or busy. Then about ten minutes later, through the windscreen I could hear a different thud. Curious I went to the opening in the windscreen and there she was, Serena was on court next to us, hitting serves. Nothing but serves. She was wearing gray long tight pants and an aqua blue shirt, a white headband and that huge head of hair. And those white and orange Nikes.
It was nothing but serves with some empty tennis ball cans as targets on the sidelines of the service boxes. Patrick, the new hitting partner and fitness guru Mackie Shilstone all stood around watching, in silence. Serena also said nothing. The only sounds were of Serena popping the serves. Only seven fans were watching in the stands. I guess nobody expected to see Serena practicing after such a tough physical match like the one she had with Lisicki. But here she was. Genius at work.
Serena is a perfectionist and she waned to fix her serve.
A few minutes later, just exactly as we finished a game, a top player came to our court and, without any words or gestures except for eye contact, bumped us off the court. She and her two coaches, opened the gate and she gave me a look that said simply very nicely: What are you doing here, this is our court.
She timed it perfectly, our score was 60 60 30 and the media happy hour had just started. Simona Halep could have the court all to herself. Halep would play Sloane Stephens, first match of the evening session.
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Serena’s post match quotes:
“I didn’t know I had 700 wins. Now, I just want to keep going, do the best that I can.â€
“Today was not my best day. I just told myself I’m not serving the way I normally serve and hitting the way I normally would hit, so at this point all I can do is just fight and try to give 200% instead of 100%.â€
“[Lisicki] had a lot of momentum going into the third set after winning the second. I just wanted to stay strong and basically really wanted to hold serve.â€
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