MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 12: Serena Williams from the United States plays a backhand … [+]
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Serena Williams managed to survive to win the first ugly set and then roll in the second during her latest Grand Slam victory.
After leaving court for several minutes before her third-round match with Russia’s Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open, No. 10 Williams struggled with her footwork and handball in the first set, and he looks slow.
But she returned to win 7-6 (5), 6-2 to advance to the fourth round where she will face No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka.
“It definitely feels good to be in the fourth round,” Williams said in court. “It felt good to get through that game. I felt like I came out a bit, not away to the starting blocks as I would have liked and as I have been since I was playing here. It’s about living and playing better every time. ”
Williams, 39, is still in the mix to win her 24th Grand Slam title, and 43-year-old Tom Brady is said to have won his seventh Super Bowl last Sunday. inspiring. ”
King and Navratilova, both strong advocates for gay and human rights in general, have not shyed in their criticism of Margaret Court, the record-keeper with 24 majors.
A court, to which one of the main courts of demonstration at the Australian Open has been named, has a history of homophobic views and King John McEnroe and others have said his name should be removed from a show court Australian Open.
“There’s just one thing beyond Margaret Court’s list of tennis achievements: this is her list of offensive and homophobic statements,” McEnroe said last year at this event.
“Just a few examples. During the apartheid regime in South Africa, she said: ‘I love South Africa. Their racial situation is better organized than anyone else ‘. What?
“For transgender and LGBTIQ children: ‘It’s the devil’s job… tennis is full of lesbians… it’s hard for children to be open to homosexuality’
“Serena, do me a favor: get two more Grand Slams this year and reach 25, so that we can access Margaret Court and her offensive ideas in the past, where they both belong. ”
Williams still has a way to go but she is still alive for No. 24.
“It’s not enough, I still want to earn more,” she told EuroSport. “I want that title to be solidified in concrete. ”
Despite making 19 non-critical mistakes while hitting just five winners, she won the first set in a breakdown.
In the second, she ran out to a 4-1 lead before Potapova left the court for injury treatment. When she returned, Williams did a quick job of her opponent.
As a result of the Covid-19 revolution, the Victorian government announced a five-day nationwide shutdown starting at 11:59 pm on Friday and running through 11:59 pm on Wednesday.
No fans will be allowed at Melbourne Park during this time, as long as players have to go directly to their hotels after games.