TENNIS: SERENA WILLIAMS couldn't afford to be superstitious as she strode on to Court Two at Wimbledon.
In a previous incarnation – relocation and refurbishment have largely removed that point of reference – it was known as the “graveyard of champions,” an ugly enough moniker for a four-time winner at the All England club.
But of more immediate concern was the fact her older sister Venus had been removed from the tournament on that particular court the previous day.
There was also the aberration of her first round French Open defeat to consider.
While others may have dwelled on peripheral matters, Serena Williams dismantled her gutsy Czech opponent Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2 6-4 in one hour and 20 minutes.
It wasn’t bravura tennis but there was a methodical efficiency, some rustiness aside, to the manner in which she constructed her victory.
The 30-year old American won four games in succession from 2-2 to win the first set. If there was a touch of the mundane about the direction the match had taken then, it quickly disappeared on the strength of five breaks of serve in the second set, the last of which proved pivotal.
Strycova blinked at 5-4 down and her opponent’s roar of delight when confirming victory illustrated the outpouring of a tension that had been building for a few games. Williams admitted: “It was definitely a little relief. I was happy to get through that. She was being really aggressive and hitting a lot of drop shots and coming to the net.
“I was playing excellently before Paris. I hadn’t felt that good for a long time going into a Grand Slam. So I was really disappointed. But as (American) Kelly Clarkson says, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
“You’ve just got to keep going and, more than anything, not lose confidence.”
Inevitably the post match inquisition veered in the direction of Venus’ illness, Sjogren’s Syndrome.
“What she is dealing with, it is hard to know each day just how you’re going to feel. I don’t think I could have what she has and continue to be the way she is and be so tough. I don’t know how she can do what she does, run her business, still play pretty darn good tennis and still be so positive.
“It (Venus’ defeat) always has some sort of an effect. I always want to play even better if she’s out of the tournament.”
The younger Williams goes forward, as does defending champion Petra Kvitova, who suffered an uncomfortable first set before overcoming Uzbekistan’s Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4 6-4 in two hard fought sets.
Kvitova explained: “Yeah, I was nervous. It was first time to be defending a Grand Slam. It wasn’t easy.
“There were a lot of firsts for me today, but I’m happy that I stayed calm inside and did not panic when I fell behind.
“That was so important. Getting over that first match and the way I did it is a positive thing that I can take forward.”
