With 17 Grand Slam titles, who would have thought making a quarterfinal would be such an accomplishment for top-ranked Serena Williams?
Apparently the only person capable of stopping Williams was Williams, pressing and heaping too much pressure on her shoulders early this year. Once she relaxed and got some big-picture perspective, she got some big wins — rolling past Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-3 on Monday in the US Open Round of 16, and into her first Grand Slam quarterfinal of the season.
“I finally made a quarterfinal this year! I’m glad to do it in New York,’’ Williams said on court, thrusting her arms skyward. “I never thought it’d be so exciting. Yeah, it feels good. Obviously, I don’t want this to end. But I’m just happy that I’m able to be performing a little better at the end of the year.’’
Ranked No. 1 in the world, Williams was knocked out in the fourth round of the Australian Open, the second round of the French Open and the third round at Wimbledon. She had only failed to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal twice in her career, and she was determined not to make it three — perhaps too determined.
“I just have been trying to see bigger picture kind of thing,’’ said Williams. “I’m playing better than I was in the beginning of the year. I’m more relaxed. I played really well in Brisbane, [but] I didn’t play well again until … Cincinnati, so just being more consistent. I’m a perfectionist. I always want to be the best, do the best. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well, particularly in the Slams.
“[I] had a couple nagging injuries that definitely didn’t help. But other than that, it was just [pressing]. Now I’m more relaxed. I feel like I don’t have to win any more. I’ve had a wonderful career, tennis has given me so much, things I would’ve never expected. I feel honored to even be a part of such a wonderful sport, so ultimately that really helps me to be able to be more relaxed.’’
And it has worked. Williams has steamrolled to the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the ninth time without losing a single set. She’s dropped just 17 games — the best of any quarterfinalist — and won her first dozen service points against Kanepi.
Next up is last year’s semifinalist Flavia Pennetta of Italy, who beat Casey Dellacqua 7-5, 6-2. And with No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard losing Monday, joining No. 9 Jelena Jankovic and No. 5 Maria Sharapova as fourth-round upset victims, that leaves Williams’ friend Caroline Wozniacki as the only other top-10 seed left. She’s on the other side of the draw and a potential foe in the final.
“[Our friendship] has definitely grown. We always have been friends, but it’s definitely grown a lot. We love each other, but at the same time we want to win. It’s an interesting friendship and unique. It’ll last way past tennis, which is great,’’ said Williams, happy to see Wozniacki regain her old level.
“It’s good for her. I know she’s been working really hard. I know she’s been doing a lot. It’s paying off. I think it’s great. We’ve all worked very hard. Sometimes it takes a little longer for the results to come. I think the results this summer have finally been coming for her.’’