TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
I need to play more like Serena, says Serena
Change Size
Serena Williams celebrates a point while playing Arantxa Rus of Netherlands during the Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 24, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP/Matthew Stockman)
Serena Williams believes the key to leveling the all-time Grand Slam record of 24 titles is to play like Serena Williams.
The 39-year-old American made a slow but successful start to her latest pursuit of Margaret Court's record with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 win over Kristie Ahn in the French Open first round on Monday.
World number 102 Ahn served for the opening set at 5-4 but Williams forced a tie-break she dominated before charging through the second set to book a clash with Tsvetana Pironkova for a spot in the last 32.
"The biggest difference was just confidence," said three-time Roland Garros champion Williams when asked to explain the stark difference between the first and second sets.
"I just need to play with more confidence, like I'm Serena. So that was it. I just started playing like that."
Victory also took Williams' first round record at the Slams to 75 wins in 76 appearances. Her only loss at the first hurdle was to Virginie Razzano in Paris in 2012.
"I love the clay and I started playing like it, opening the court and moving and sliding," added Williams.
"I do think her level dropped a little bit in the beginning of the first set and I took advantage of that.
"I think her level was so high in the first set that I just needed to lift my level more than what I did."
