By Erik Gudris | Monday, July 4, 2016
World No. 1 and defending Wimbledon champion Serena Williams finds herself back in the ladies’ quarterfinals after passing yet another test given to her by fellow veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova.
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Williams found a way to channel her trademark intensity into yet another win at the All-England Club.
“Yeah, I mean, it's no secret, I'm a very intense player.,” Williams said. “I wake up since I was three years old to do this. These are the moments that I live for. The passion and the intensity that I have is what makes me Serena. I can't change, nor would I ever want to be different.
The two veterans split their previous two meetings this year with Kuznetsova winning in Miami with Williams taking the victory in Rome. This, however, was their first ever meeting on a grass court and at Wimbledon.
The 13th seed Kuznetsova entered the match with nothing to lose. In the opening games of the first set, it was Kuznetsova who looked the more relaxed on Centre Court. Each player tested the other with powerful groundstrokes and deft touch up at net.
With Williams not quite able to punch through the Russian, it made her more vulnerable to losing her serve.
That’s what happened at 4-all, 30-40 with Williams down a break point. Williams mistimed a drop shot that sat up for Kuznetsova to hit an easy passing shot winner. As Williams did the splits on the slick grass, Kuznetsova walked to her chair holding a 5-4 lead.
Kuznetsova couldn’t serve out the set though as Williams amped up the velocity on her groundstrokes. A strong forehand from Williams gave her the break back for 5-all.
With a light rain now falling on court, Williams got into an extended discussion with the umpire about the court conditions. Eventually, play was halted so that the Centre Court roof could be closed.
When play resumed with the roof closed, Williams reset her game and her focus.
Williams easily held serve for 6-5 putting the pressure back on Kuznetsova. The top seed then ripped several massive returns in the following game that soon gave Williams set point.
Williams pounded a strong return right at the Russian’s feet that she couldn’t handle. With that, Williams clenched her fist having taken the set 7-5.
The second set was all about Williams who raised her game another level not wanting to give the Russian any hope for a comeback.
Williams earned an early service break and from there put on a shot making display. That included a lunge volley winner from Williams who eventually built up a 4-0 advantage.
Williams broke Kuznetsova’s serve one more time before closing out the runaway set and the match 7-5, 6-0.
“I had a little time to think about it and just calm down, really just relax,” Williams said about what during the rain delay. “Both Svetlana and I had an opportunity to talk to our coaches. I think that really helped me out a lot. I talked to Patrick. He gave me some tips on what I could do. I just was able to do that.”
Williams now looks ahead to her quarterfinal match against another Russian in Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a player she’s never lost to in five previous meetings.
“She's a really good player, you know. We've had some tough matches in the past. I just know that going into that match, I definitely need to be ready. I've lost to players that's never beaten me in the past in some big situations. I definitely don't want that to happen.”
Photo Credit: Stephen White/CameraSport