Serena Williams’ Grand Slam chances questioned as Roger Federer backed to add to haul

Australian Open: Five things to watch

Mats Wilander has claimed Roger Federer is now more likely to win a Grand Slam than Serena Williams. And the Swedish legend said the American superstar “screwed up” her best chance to win her 24th title at the 2018 Wimbledon final when she had Meghan Markle in the crowd.

Williams won her 23rd and last Major title at the 2017 Australian Open when she was eight weeks pregnant.

Since returning to the game, she has lost four Grand Slam finals without winning a set as a new generation of stars – Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu and defending champion Sofia Kenin – have broken through.

Like Federer, Williams will turn 40 this year and time is running out for both at the top of the game. The Swiss superstar has been out for 13 months after two knee surgeries.

But Eurosport analyst Wilander said: “Serena’s got to the finals for sure but she hasn’t been close in them. She’s not like Roger, Rafa or Novak, there’s a big difference there. Roger is somehow more dangerous still.

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

“She hasn’t served well for three years. That is the most dominant weapon in the history of tennis.

“It’s not even the best serve on tour anymore and that is a big big issue because that would be like taking Nadal’s forehand or Djokovic’s backhand away from them.

“The serve has to return for her to have a chance to win.

“Without it, I can’t imagine her playing against these young players and grinding them down physically and then turn it into a mental on the big points.”

And the seven-time Grand Slam winner said unlike the Big Three in the men’s game, Williams was fighting against the next generation without any help as she seeks to equal Margaret Court’s record.

“The women’s game has probably advanced faster in the last few years than the men’s game,” he said.

“With Federer and Djokovic and Nadal, the three of them have suppressed the rest of the field for so many years that they feel like there is a brick ceiling to go through. But she has been alone.

“It has been impossible to hold them down on her own. She needed the help of Sharapova, she needed the help of her sister. But she hasn’t got any help from any other player. It has been just her against a wave of youth.

“And it seems they are taking what Serena has done over the years and perfected that and are possibly better movers than she is.

“And now there are even serving as well as she is. I think it is more about the women’s game having improved so much that she hasn’t been able to stay ahead of the curve.”

Markle and Kate Middleton were on Centre Court to see Williams play her first Grand Slam final as a mother against Angelique Kerber in 2018.

“That was her chance,” Wilander said. “That was unusual. I think she screwed up there. She had a lot of people in the stands that shouldn’t have been there.

“There was a bunch of famous people. It seems like she was thinking, I’m going to win 24, 26, 27.

“She lost that opportunity and I think people saw that she came out, she didn’t play well, didn’t serve well, didn’t do anything well.

“I am not sure if she is getting closer to the old Serena or further away. I am hoping we get to see her win her 24th – it would be unbelievablly cool to have that happen.”

Watch the Australian Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport app

Source: Read Full Article