Serena Williams warned her punchdrunk rivals that she is still to realise her potential and that retirement is not on her agenda as she targets adding to her 16 Grand Slam titles.
The 31-year-old American world number one defeated defending champion Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4 to capture her second Roland Garros on Saturday, 11 years after her first.
But if her flagging rivals on the tour were desperately hoping that Williams was contemplating quitting, then she told them to think again.
Was she pondering following the example of Greta Garbo, another American diva of a different age and culture who quit Hollywood at the age of 35, at the peak of her powers?
“Wow, what an analogy, me and Greta Garbo. I definitely want to go out in my peak. That’s my goal. But have I peaked yet?,” Williams teased her audience. The evidence suggests that as long as she remains fit and motivated into her third decade on the tour, the likes of Sharapova and world number three Victoria Azarenka, the only two who can match the American for power, will continue to have their work cut out.
“I’m really relaxed. I really enjoy every moment that I’m out there. I always said that I felt like I have never played my best tennis,” added Williams, the oldest winner in Paris in the Open era. I have said that for years, that I feel like I can always do better and play better and I have always wanted to reach that level. Maybe I’m just trying to get there.”
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Ashwin takes tied 13th spot in Albena chess
Albena (Bulgaria), June 9: Ashwin Jayaram emerged as the best Indian with a tied 13th place finish after settling for a draw with GM Boris Chatalbashev of Bulgaria in the ninth and final round of Grand Europe Albena chess tournament, here.
There was little to cheer for the fans as the highest rated Indian, Abhijeet Gupta, went down fighting against International Master Vitaliy Bernadskiy of Ukraine in his final round.
Earlier in the eighth round, Abhijeet had raised hopes of an improved finish after outplaying Eylon Nakar of Israel.
Tigran Petrosian of Armenia won the tournament comprehensively defeating Levente Vajda of Romania in the last round.
The Armenian finished with an impressive eight points out of a possible nine and was a full point clear of his nearest rivals.
Hrant Melkumyan of Armenia, Mircea-Emilian Parligras of Romania, Tamir Nabaty of Israel and Bernadskiy finished tied second with seven points each.
Jayaram, on six points, was tied for the 13th place along side Anurag Mahamal who defeated Melih Yurtseven of Turkey in the last game. Gupta, V. Vishnu Prasanna and Swapnil Dhopade ended the tournament on 5.5 points each. — PTI