Serena itching for Wimbledon after French Open blow
Updated On: 04 June, 2009 10:57 AM IST | AFP
Serena Williams said she couldn't wait for this year's Wimbledon to begin after being dumped out of the French Open at the quarter-final stage.
Serena Williams said she couldn't wait for this year's Wimbledon to begin after being dumped out of the French Open at the quarter-final stage.
The American World No 2 came off second best in a 2hr 46min marathon against Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 7-5 to set up a semi-final with Australian number 30 seed Samantha Stosur.
The defeat ended Williams's hopes of a third-straight Grand Slam title, having triumphed at the 2008 US Open and this year's Australian Open.
She has now set her sights on winning a third Wimbledon singles title, but admits that in previous years she has struggled to adapt to the transition between clay and grass.
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"For me it's frustrating, because the balls are flying and going so fast (on grass)," she said. "It's totally different and I always start out really, really bad, so it's just frustrating for me.
"I don't wish there was more of a gap (between the tournaments) though. It's like, I lost here, maybe I can do better at Wimbledon. I wish it were tomorrow."
Williams has not tasted singles glory at Roland Garros or Wimbledon since the purple patch in 2002-2003 when she won five majors in just over a year, winning back-to-back Wimbledons and clinching her only French Open title to date in 2002.
She has since made two final appearances in London, losing to a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova of Russia in 2004 and then to her elder sister Venus in 2008.
Asked about her targets for the Wimbledon fortnight, Williams replied: "My goal is to do better than last year, hopefully."
The former World No 1 struggled for form and fitness going into Roland Garros and conceded that she had
"I started out really bad," she said. "Just physically, I wasn't the best. I was trying to make it. I didn't have great matches coming in here, and I started out on a losing streak.
"I guess I was just on a hope and a dream, and now it's over."
With Williams out of the way, Russia's Dinara Safina will seek to confirm her status as women's World No 1 by winning her first Grand Slam after two unsuccessful attempts.
A beaten finalist in Paris against Ana Ivanovic last year, Safina was out-classed by Williams in this year's Australian Open final, but the American thinks the 23-year-old's time may have finally come.
"I already think she's definitely authenticated as the World No 1," Williams said.
"I definitely see her as a favourite."
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