‘Watch out’ for ‘calmer and really fit’ Serena Williams at remaining Grand Slams, warns Chris Evert
Chris Evert believes the enforced tennis break could benefit Serena Williams’ hunt for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam, saying she is likely to have a “fresh perspective and approach”.
Williams’ last major success came at the 2017 Australian Open, but she has reached four finals since giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., finishing runner-up in all four matches.
There are still two Grand Slams remaining in 2020 due to the rescheduled calendar with the US Open set to start on August 31 and the French Open kicking off on September 20.
Evert has warned Williams’ rivals that she is in “great shape” on the back of the five-month hiatus.
“Maybe she will be calmer out there. I think she will have a fresh perspective and approach,” the former world No 1 told BBC Two’s Wimbledon: The Best of the Championship.
She added: “She looks really fit and in great shape and she seems to be really eager to get back.
“So that’s the danger zone for a lot of the other players because if anyone can get through these difficult times and these challenges it’s Serena Williams, with what she’s had to go through in her life. This will be a like piece of cake for her, so watch out for her.”
Williams finished runner-up in Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2018 and 2019, but Evert feels she has moved on from those losses, and also believes many people’s perspectives have changed due to the coronavirus lockdown.
“There is enough time lapse between those Grand Slam finals where she lost to now,” the 18-time Grand Slam winner said.
“That was then, and this is now. Don’t you think [the lockdown] has changed perspectives for people? I want to do more than ever now things that I’ve been postponing and I want to get to my bucket list.
“I’m a little bit calmer and living a bit simpler than before. And maybe that has changed Serena too. When she does come back and play I think she could use it to her advantage.”
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