By Jayita Belcourt
It is often said that the true measure of a person is seen not where they stand at times of comfort, but rather, how they stand in the face of adversity.
For former WTA # 1, Serena Williams, competing at her 46th Grand slam event, times were surely testing. Battling an ankle injury after rolling it earlier this year in the Brisbane Open, the 30 year old veteran came into the match with high hopes but was soon left contemplating her performance after being crushed in two straight sets by Russian WTA ranked #56, Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3.
Asked whether or not she should have played in her condition, Williams was quick to defend her loss but not her choice.
“I probably should not have playedâ€.. “Obviously I’m not a hundred percent, and I haven’t been. But it’s no excuse or anythingâ€, she said.
When asked earlier in the week about her injury, Williams response was to a different effect. “I really tested my moving today for the first time so I feel a lot better with it… “overall I feel really good,†she said.
Clearly an injury was part of the equation, but the normal hard-hitting impressive play we have come to expect from the WTA ranked #12, was simply not there today. With 9 double faults and 37 unforced errors, the stats were not mounting in her favour.
“I just did not serve well. It was just disastrous reallyâ€. “I made 37 errors. That kind of tells the story of the matchâ€, she said.
It is well acknowledged that the feisty USA does not like to lose a match and certainly not a fourth rounder. Quoted earlier in the week as saying how much she “loved playing majors†and “love competingâ€, Serena also revealed her strong distaste for losing.
“More than anything, I hate losing. That kind of makes me really hungry to work harder to get the results that I wantâ€, she said.
So how does Serena, winner of 13 Grand Slams, move forward from today?
Surprising upbeat and positive after her loss, Serena is now focusing on the next steps ahead and ways to improve her game. She is also setting her eyes on the London 2012 Olympics.
“You know, I didn’t play well. I’m not physically 100%. So it’s just like, you know, I can’t be so angry at myself, even though I’m very unhappy,†she said. “I look forward to our next match. I feel like I definitely can play so much better. And that’s good. Like if I felt like I couldn’t play better, then that would be a problemâ€. “I also think about things that I can do better next time around. That’s usually how I kind of respond. I’m already thinking about practising as soon as tomorrowâ€, she said.
Ekaterina Makarova will now face Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals. Sharapova WTA rank #4 had a tough three setter against German opponent Sabine Lisicki. Lisicki, WTA rank #14, gave a gutsy performance taking the first set 6-3. Sharapova fought back in the second set to overpower her German opponent 6-2. The final set could have been a gram slam final with a fine display of powerful baseline hitting and graceful drop shots across the court. In an epic battle that lasted 2 hour and 15 minutes, Sharapova stole the final set securing a place in the quarter-finals.
(Serena sculpture by American artist Barrymore A. Moton)
Serena stunned by Russian lefty
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Very impressive performance by Makarova. I thought she was tough as nails in this match, she played excellent defense and countered Serena who seemed surprised that Makarova was as good as she was yesterday. Makarova didn’t allow Serena to get a hold on the match. Very impressed by Makarova. Serena looks very fit but her movement is suspect whether it’s from the ankle or all the years catching up. The young players are just too good today. Can’t say for sure if I believe Serena could threaten for another major, she could be finished though you can never count out a champion with the ferocity and drive of Serena.
Louise Belcourt · January 24, 2012 at 2:00 am
I would never count out a champion like Serena Williams for another major. She did go into the tournament with an injury and that did not help her yesterday with her court movement against such an accurate, flat ball hitter as Makarova.
There was so many unforced errors by Serena that she cannot blame her injury for that, it was the pressure from her opponent that contributed to it. Serena seemed to struggle in the heat as well.
Makarova played superbly moving Serena with low flat balls deep in the court, defending well but most importantly keeping her cool throughout the entire match. I was most impressed.
Serena has played like this before and come back to win Grand Slams. I still believe she has at least 1 more grand slam up her sleeve!
Scoop Malinowski · January 24, 2012 at 2:59 am
Serena might have 3 or 4 slams up her sleeve!
Andrew Miller · January 27, 2012 at 3:42 am
I wouldn’t count out Serena but I am beginning to have some doubts. She has been untouchable before at the Australian Open, but I think she now has some real challengers. It is as if Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, and Del Potro all arrived on the WTA tour in the form of Clijsters, Kvitova, Sharapova, Na Li, Azarenka, maybe even the Woz – players who are ready to beat a Serena that plays infrequently and, increasingly, not as well as a year and a half ago when she won Wimbledon. Though the fear factor is there, it’s not the aura it once was – when Serena would win a few games just by virtue of being on the court and being who she is, on reputation alone.
Serena is the best player I’ve ever seen (I wish I saw Seles play!). Her movement, power, knowledge, just make for one of the great champions in the sport. All that said, her 2012 campaign is looking a lot like 2011. Let’s hope she has a better year.