Slam 13 beckons Serena
Serena Williams admits over-confidence could be the biggest obstacle to her bid to win a fourth Wimbledon singles title in Saturday’s final against Vera Zvonareva.
Williams has swept to the final in such dominant fashion that few outside of Zvonareva’s family and friends expect anything other than a convincing victory for the defending champion at the All-England Club.s
The American top seed has yet to drop a set at this year’s Championships and has sent down a total of 80 aces as she bludgeoned opponents into submission with her ferocious serve.
Now she has to defeat Russian 21st seed Zvonareva, who will be playing in her first Grand Slam final, to retain the Venus Rosewater dish.
With 12 Grand Slam titles already to her name, Serena knows she is the favourite and, in the circumstances, a less focused player may take victory for granted.
But the 28-year-old has no intention of resting on her past laurels when she walks onto Centre Court.
“On paper it looks like I should win. But Vera, I’ve played her several times; she’s beaten some good people,” Serena said.
“Her last two matches she’s been down a set, so she’s obviously a fighter. She never gives up.
Serena has been so dominant on serve at the Championships this year that her total of 80 aces is 50 more than the second highest tally reached by sister Venus.
While Serena undoubtedly has more weapons at her disposal than Zvonareva, the Russian has demonstrated her fighting spirit by coming from a set down to defeat Kim Clijsters and then Tsvetana Pironkova in her last two matches.
Zvonareva, 25, is well aware the bookmakers give her virtually no chance of winning her first Grand Slam this week, but she is determined to push Serena harder than anyone has managed so far.
“Serena is great player and the defending champion but I always believe in myself,” Zvonareva said. —AFP
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