French Open, Lucie Safarova, Roland Garros, Serena Williams, Tennis History

Serena Reaches 20 with 3rd Roland Garros Title

Posted by Dan Martin on

Serena Williams Makes History and Sets up Possibilities

Serena Williams won her 3rd consecutive Grand Slam title and stands in a class of her own on the WTA Tour.  Serena did not waltz to victory as 5 of her 7 matches in Paris went to 3 sets.  Her championship match went off of the rails after leading 6-3, 4-1, 40-15.  Lucie Safarova fought hard to take advantage of a opening and broke Serena 3 times to force a 2nd set tiebreak.  In the tiebreak, Safarova’s forehand inflicted damage and forced a deciding set.  Safarova broke serve and held for a 2-0 lead in the final set. It seemed as though an improbable comeback and massive upset were underway.  Instead, Serena regained her form and won the next 6 games.  Many of the games were competitive, but Safarova could not stop Williams from crossing the finish line.  Serena winning Roland Garros despite losing 5 sets in Paris is a good sign for Williams as her 2015 matches move off of clay.

Defending Safarova’s Game Plan

Safarova did not look overly nervous in the championship match or in facing Serena Williams.  She played aggressive tennis despite never having beaten Serena in the past.  Safarova was criticized by John McEnroe for not playing safer when trailing Serena in the second set.  I disagree with McEnroe’s assessment.  Safarova is a shot maker, and she played true to herself.  When Serena tightened up in the middle of the second set, Safarova’s aggressive play let her blast back into the match.  Had Safarova played against her instincts and sought a style that did not allow her to hope to play her best tennis she may not have fallen quite so far behind in the second set, but she also would likely not have come back and taken that set.  Safarova’s forehand found the mark in her comeback because she had been seeking the mark from the outset of the match.

Serena’s Possibilities

  • Having won 3 consecutive majors, Serena can win a 2nd Serena Slam by taking a 6th Wimbledon crown.
  • Serena has never won the first two legs of the calendar Grand Slam in the same year.  Now, she is a 6th Wimbledon and 7th US Open title in 2015 away from winning a calendar Grand Slam.
  • Serena is now 2 Grand Slam singles titles behind Steffi Graf and is now 4 Grand Slam singles titles behind Margaret Court.

Can Anyone Stop Serena?

Petra Kvitova is a 2-time Wimbledon champion who could defend her crown and derail the calendar and Serena Slam talk.  Kvitova is the only woman to beat Serena this year and did so in dominating fashion in Madrid.  Lucie Safarova did not acquit herself poorly in Paris vs. Williams.  The two lefties from the Czech Republic both will be players to watch at Wimbledon.  Victoria Azarenka was close in her two 2015 clay court meetings with Williams.  Vika seems to have nearly recovered from her 2014 injuries.  Sloane Stephens has demonstrated an ability to trouble Serena.  Garbine Muguruza beat Serena at Roland Garros 2014 and pushed her at the 2015 Australian Open.  Venus Williams is a 5-time Wimbledon champion who no one wants in their quarter on grass.  Maria Sharapova played well in Melbourne, but has not beaten Serena since late 2004.  While some younger players present a potential challenge and Kvitova if playing well is a major obstacle, this group does not appear to be a murderer’s row of competition headed into Wimbledon 2015.

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