French Open: Serena Williams sends big warning to rivals

Former world No.1 is into the third round
after victory against Ashleigh Barty

One-Minute Read

The American, who was described this week by Novak Djokovic as
the “greatest female athlete of all time”, is
playing her first Grand Slam tournament for 16 months at the French
Open in Paris.

In the Roland-Garros second round yesterday CNN says Williams “engineered an out-of-this
world comeback” against Ashleigh Barty to beat the Australian 17th
seed 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Williams’s comeback victory in Paris not only sent out a warning
to her rivals in women’s tennis but also proved she can “crank up”
her game when needed, says The Guardian.

The New York Times reports that the “Real Serena”
has returned after “roaring back” to claim victory against Barty.
NYT tennis reporter Christopher Clarey writes: “Serena Williams’s
personal life and priorities have certainly changed in the past 16
months, but she was not going to bid adieu to the French Open
without a fight.

“With the light fading, Williams had done what she has
done so often on the show courts of the world: rallying – with a
vengeance – to win.”

In her glittering career so far Williams has won 23 Grand
Slam titles – one away from the record held by Australia’s Margaret
Court.

With her return to tennis now at full speed, Williams sent a big
statement to her rivals. She told the BBC: “I’m probably not where I was before I left. I’m
definitely going to get there, but I also want to get beyond
there.”

Quoted by Time magazine, Williams added that “every day is a
great day for me”. Next up for Williams is a last-32 clash against
11th seed Julia Goerges and she said: “I’m going to be here,
fighting my heart out. It’s such a great feeling.”