Serena's new status
Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the most recent of the four mothers to win the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Championship, and the only one to have done so in more than a century, has endorsed Serena Williams’ prospects of becoming the next.
In 1980, three years after the birth of her daughter Kelly, Goolagong Cawley joined Blanche Hillyard, Charlotte Sterry and Dorothea Lambert Chambers as mothers to have triumphed at the All England Club. Williams gave birth to her first child, Alexis Olympia Ohanian jnr, last September.
“I think she’s capable, and I’m sure she’ll be ready, because she’s a strong woman and a great player, and she has a desire to come back and play,’’ Goolagong Cawley said. “Maybe she’ll now play for pure joy herself, like I did.’’
Williams, the world No.181 and No.25 seed, admits she feels less pressure as a tennis player now she is a parent, just as Goolagong Cawley noticed the difference travelling with a child made to the latter stages of a decorated career that lasted from 1967 to 1983 and earned the graceful Australian seven Grand Slam singles titles from 18 finals.
“I think it’s more fun, because you’d go back, and instead of just going out to dinner or something you’d see Kelly and play with her - it just made me more relaxed, and much happier within myself. I felt pure joy after having Kelly and that came out on the court.’’
Goolagong Cawley admitted she had not initially intended to return to competitive tennis, and then tried to resume too soon, but then later on, “I was feeling really good, mentally and physically, and I just wanted to get out there. So I’m sure Serena will feel the same way. She’ll really want it.’’
Williams’ Grand Slam comeback started brightly at Roland-Garros before a pectoral muscle injury intervened to thwart her much-anticipated fourth round contest with Maria Sharapova. Another Wimbledon singles championship would be her eighth, and a 24th major would match Australian Margaret Court’s longstanding record.
“If she feels anything like I felt after having Kelly, she has definitely got a very good chance of hanging onto that trophy again,’’ Goolagong Cawley said of Williams. “She’s a tough player, mentally and physically.’’
Dual Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is the other mother in the ladies’ singles draw, and is competing at the All England Club for the first time since the birth of her son Leo in December, 2016.
