LONDON: Serena Williams has had enough rest, a week away from the courts. She’s also spent enough time away from Centre Court, and is more than ready to go for another title at Wimbledon.
Less than three weeks after winning her fifth Wimbledon trophy, Williams is back in London, looking for the only major singles title to escape her.
“I feel really good going into these Olympic Games, and wanting to do really well,” Williams said at a news conference with the rest of the US team. “I think it’s exciting to be back so soon. Usually we have to wait 12 months to walk back on Centre Court and kind of feel that moment that we felt. So for me, I’m going to be really excited with such a quick turnaround and get back on the grass where I love to play.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s best hope, Andy Murray, hopes he’ll be too busy to watch Usain Bolt try to defend his Olympic golds.
Murray has vivid memories of Bolt’s blistering 100 metres at the Beijing Olympics but the British number one hopes to miss out on watching the sprinter try and repeat that feat in London. At the London Games, the men’s tennis final is being held on August 5 – the same day as the 100m final – and on the same court where Murray was reduced to tears after Roger Federer beat him to capture his seventh Wimbledon crown.
“In terms of achievement, winning a gold medal is the pinnacle of sport and would be right up there with anything I have done so far,” the 25-year-old Scot added.
Andy Roddick will also resume his rollercoaster relationship with Wimbledon, determined to finally emerge as a champion at the All England Club.
The former world number one has been a beaten men’s singles finalist at Wimbledon three times – losing to Roger Federer in 2004, 2005 and 2009.
The American is back for the Olympics at the venue which has caused him so much heartbreak.
Roddick said playing at Wimbledon once again was a dream chance to add an Olympic gold medal to his 32 career titles.
“There are [a] couple of clay court venues in the mix for tennis which I probably wouldn’t have liked as much… Our team generally likes playing on the grass,” he said. (Agencies)
