Serena Williams bid for a magical 24th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon

Post created on 11:36 am

Serena Williams is ready for all comers at Wimbledon, saying: “I’ve had a big X on my back since ’99, since I won the US Open.”

The American, who turns 40 later this year, has not won a Grand Slam title since the Australian Open in 2017 but remains the biggest scalp in women’s tennis.

Williams heads into this year’s tournament having spent a prolonged period of time preparing for this year’s tournament working alongside her long-time coach Patrick Mouratoglou and the watchful eye of her sister Venus.

She said: “It’s definitely made me better. When players play me that hard every single tournament, every single match, every single Grand Slam, it just doesn’t matter where, you just get better.

“It’s been difficult mentally when someone might beat you and they lose directly in the next round almost every time. At the end of the day, that’s why I’m Serena.”

“I always believe in Serena because I know what she’s capable of,” Mouratoglou told Sky Sports.

“Since she has become a mum she hasn’t been as successful as in the past because at the last step she has not been able to make it, but she still plays some great tennis.

“Now it’s more about finding her inner strength to be Serena when she needs to be Serena and then pass that last step.

“There are two challenges. Be ready for the Grand Slams and be able to find the real Serena when she needs to and if she finds those two she will win a Grand Slam. She can, of course she can, 100 per cent.”