Serena Williams hails Tiger Woods’ influence as she continues her US Open run with a stunning 6-3 6-3 victory here at Forest Hills.
The 28th-ranked American defeated the No. 2 player in the world in a match that lasted an hour and 26 minutes – a record for the longest match on Centre Court.
It was a classic of sorts, and a rare example of a player coming back from a loss to clinch the win.
But, like all great athletes, when the going gets tough she makes sure she’s still in the game.
And that’s just what she did here – in the most dramatic fashion with the most stunning performance of her stunning career.
Now Williams, who has not lost a match on clay since her return in the U.S. Open in 2004, faces a tough test in the French Open in early September.
That would be her toughest ever clay-court season, an arduous journey that has seen her go from being seen as a favourite in the U.S. to being regarded as a huge underdog and then, finally, as a true favourite of the fans in Australia.
Since winning her first tournament in Australia in 2000, Williams has been a one-woman show in which she has beaten the No. 2 player in the world and beaten the most dominant player on the tour when it was all on the line.
When she finally gets that title she’ll be worthy of the adulation in Australia and deservedly will have a star in the eyes of fans around the world.
In the meantime, though, she has to keep right on winning or she’ll be remembered as the woman who got left behind.
“This will be my last big tournament until the French,” the five-time major winner said following her victory.
“This is the first time I’ve had a match like this. It’s been one thing after the other.
“I’ve had a lot