SERENA Williams' protracted pursuit of Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam titles resumes at a 2020 US Open that promises to be unlike any other.
The absence of fans because of coronavirus concerns means the buzz and hubbub that define the US Open will be missing.
Williams, whose 23 major victories are an Open-era record, will have nothing but her own skill and will to get her through the tough moments as she seeks a record-breaking seventh title on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows.
"I don't dislike it and that's weird because I am a player that is so emotional and so, like, a crowd player," Williams said upon returning to action after the WTA's coronavirus shutdown. "Kind of reminds me of the junior days. There is something nostalgic about that."
Playing in a virtually empty Ashe stadium, which seats more than 23,000, could be another story.
"Playing in New York is going to be interesting, because the stadium is huge," Williams said. "But I do practice in empty stadiums, so I have played in New York on Arthur Ashe Stadium when it was empty and it was great.
"I guess I have to kind of lean on that."
It has been more than three years since Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open when she was already pregnant with daughter Olympia.
She's come close since, reaching four major finals only to come up empty handed.
"I've definitely been stuck," said Williams, who seems to have grown weary of the questions about Court's record if not the chase itself.
Even if she reaches the milestone, she said, it would provide no sort of punctuation mark.
"I'm never satisfied, that's the story of my career," Williams said. "I'll never be satisfied until I retire, that's just my personality."
Her chances of matching court, and breaking out of a tie with Chris Evert for most US Open women's titles with six, would seem to be improved with a bevy of top players, including world number two Simona Halep and Canadian Bianca Andreescu who stunned Williams in last year's final because of coronavirus concerns or injury.
But Williams has looked vulnerable in two tournaments since the WTA tour returned to action, laboring through lengthy matches before earlier than expected exits at Lexington and the Western & Southern Open held this year on the same New York courts that will host the Open.
- Learning to win -
She fell to 116th-ranked Shelby Rogers in Lexington, and squandered a commanding lead in a loss to 21st-ranked Maria Sakkari of Greece in New York.
"I've just got to start learning how to win big points," Williams said after she was unable to serve out a straight-sets victory against Sakkari. "If I could just focus on how to win that one point, that would be better.
"I had so many opportunities to win and I have to figure that one out, like how to start winning those matches again."
Defeats like those have seen Williams lose the aura of invincibility she once carried.
And upstart challengers this year won't find themselves up against the will of thousands of pro-Williams fans.
But Sakkari said that for young players there was still a measure of trepidation taking on an opponent who shaped their tennis dreams.
"I remember myself watching tennis and I remember myself watching Serena," the 25-year-old said. "That's the image that I have in my mind.
"I mean, obviously she's like the GOAT (Greatest of All Time)," Sakkari said. "Having her on the tour still, it's incredible."
AFP RELAXNEWS
Sun Aug 30 2020
![Serena sets sights again on 24th Grand Slam title Serena sets sights again on 24th Grand Slam title](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-08/41598761530_TENNIS.jpg)
Serena Williams arrives at the US Open seeking a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title but her first in more than three years. - Photo AFPRelax
![Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/61703329565_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Ahad, 7 Julai 2024.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Ahad, 7 Julai 2024.
Enam cedera hari pertama Festival Larian Lembu di Sepanyol
Meskipun ada yang cedera, acara tersebut sentiasa mendapat perhatian dan tahun ini, ratusan orang mengejar enam ekor lembu jantan di bandar itu.
10 Berita Pilihan - (07 Julai 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![PM Anwar seru NGO, gerakan belia tolak rasuah, salah guna kuasa PM Anwar seru NGO, gerakan belia tolak rasuah, salah guna kuasa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720367469_TBAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
PM Anwar seru NGO, gerakan belia tolak rasuah, salah guna kuasa
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyeru pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan gerakan belia di negara ini supaya menyahut seruan kerajaan bagi menolak rasuah, salah guna kuasa dan penindasan.
Acara bola tampar atas air di Slovenia tarik perhatian
Pemain bola tampar dari pelbagai negara turun ke gelanggang terapung di Slovenia untuk bermain sukan mereka dalam persekitaran yang agak luar biasa.
Kawasan gunung Etna masih lagi tidak selamat
Letusan Gunung Etna dilaporkan masih lagi memuntahkan abu sehinggakan menjejaskan kawasan ruang udara yang kini dikaburi dengan asap hitam pada Ahad.
![Angka kematian di Gaza meningkat kepada 38,153 Angka kematian di Gaza meningkat kepada 38,153](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719304919_TBisraelairstrike.jpg)
Angka kematian di Gaza meningkat kepada 38,153
Angka kematian rakyat Palestin akibat serangan berterusan Israel di Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 38,153, kata Pihak Berkuasa Kesihatan Gaza dalam satu kenyataan pada Ahad.
Empat terbunuh serangan ketika parti hari lahir
Pemeriksaan di rumah itu mendapati tujuh mangsa yang mana empat daripadanya telah meninggal dunia.
Rafah kini dilitupi debu, runtuhan bangunan memenuhi bandar
Dulunya Rafah sibuk dengan urusan seharian penduduk namun kini ia umpama bandar hantu yang diliputi debu, sunyi hampir sepanjang masa.
![Bianca Andreescu cipta sejarah, gagalkan misi Serena Williams Bianca Andreescu cipta sejarah, gagalkan misi Serena Williams](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-09/41567896432_BiancaAndreescu.jpg)
Bianca Andreescu cipta sejarah, gagalkan misi Serena Williams
Andreescu, 19 tahun, sekali gus mencipta sejarah menjadi atlet pertama Kanada menjuarai siri jelajah kejohanan terbesar dalam sukan tenis itu.