Serena William’s ‘power-house’ of women’s tennis
View(s):‘Richard Williams’ father of Venus and Serena was right in 1998 when he said, “Serena will last longer in the scene”, this was when Venus Williams was at her peak in women’s Tennis.
Serena performed well, had her share of issues and now, she reigns. So far this year, 5 premium titles, No.1 in WTA with 4960 ranking points, 2.7 million Dollars prize money in the pocket without endorsement dollars and it is not even June, yet. Not many can have this success pitch in today’s economy.
Serena, like Vitas Gueralitis, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras is a ‘power house’. She is keeping the flag with stripes and stars high for everyone to see while Bruce Springsteen, the musical ‘power house’ sings ‘Made in the USA’.
Americans, Billy Jean King and Navratilova played at net. Today, this is a rare brand among women. Women’s Tennis today is a baseline game. If you notice, in the current WTA rankings, from No.2 position onwards, all the players are baseliners, with the strong physical build it demands. The Afro American Serena is 5’9” and weights close to 155 pounds. Visually she is stocky and strong. In play she is the ultimate in power, flexibility, speed and grit. Power-house Tennis is her brand. She is not a baseliner nor is she a net player but a ‘Mid Courter’! -No man’s land is her home
In Tennis, space behind the service courts is the ‘no man’s land’. Being the area where ball bounces, it is tactically considered to be the wrong place to be in. This is Serena’s home. It is an unusual home for a good player. She covers the net and the baseline from that position effectively and with ease. This positioning and maneuvers are unique. Many good players are confused and unable to tackle Serena’s game because of this. Victoria Azerenka of Belarus former number 1 and current number 3 in the WTA ranking got only 4 games in her finals against Serena in the recent 2013 Rome clay court tournament.
Effect of the Half-Volley
Half-Volley is a shot played almost with the bounce. No coach will plan and teach Half-volley as a standard shot. What is known about half volley is that it is an advanced emergency shot with little control. Not for Serena Williams. I cannot remember a player who plays so many half Volleys as Serena and so well. Her half Volley has precise contact and control and it effectively takes away a good deal of time in the exchange of shots making it very difficult for her opponent’s to be in their comfort zone. I have followed her closely and find that she does this by design. From a position inside the court, Serena not only sends the opponents out of the court but also plays unreachable winners with her half-volleys. Serena has extra ordinary sighting powers. Often in tennis Eyes decide the player’s potential.
Service the ‘Rescue weapon’
Every good player uses the serve when in trouble. This goes way back in time. In the mid sixties John Newcombe of Australia, winner of 1967 Wimbledon was noted for getting out of bad game situations, with the serve. Serena has won many service games after being love 40 down. Her rescue weapon is the serve. They are often aces, if not they set up advantage to win points within three shots. It is not only the speed she generates that makes her serve effective but also the placement. Maria Sharapova WTA number 2 and Victoria Azerenka are yet to find an answer to Serena’s serve. Return of Serve
It must be a nightmare to serve at Serena. Her reaction permits to take the ball so very early. That makes her the player with best Return of Serve in Women’s Tennis today. To serve at her must be a nerve wrecking experience. Often players are surprised and caught off balance when she returns. Serena’s return can tackle any speed very well. Only a very good Spin Serve with speed is effective against her. Nobody has that now.
Short rallies
Physical agility is another weapon of hers but not sustainable speed. Sporadically she shows long spurts of speed but her heavy build does not allow it to be sustained. There are no players like Justine Hennin, Lindsay Davenport or Steffi Graf today to exploit this weakness of hers right now. High intensity short rally is the brand Serena plays to reach the winning post.
Family and Tennis History
If one sees all the moves the family made, we will have to agree that Richard Williams was very conversant in sports and Tennis history. Sri Lankan parents must also take this lead and study sport and Tennis history. Too many are going in the wrong direction. It is easy to be led wrong in Tennis if parents do not have the knowledge of the game and its history.
The Williams family moved from Michigan to Compton, Los Angeles for Tennis. Compton was a tough area for kids. Father coached them from manuals and few more years in an academy only as part time players. Then he not only took them out of the academy and also stopped them from playing junior events. They were made professionals with home study. Venus and Serena were ‘A’ grade students. Efforts of father Richard and Mother Oracene have not been in vain. Venus and Serena are sustaining it well. Venus dominated the world with speed. She was very athletic. It is told that Venus would walk from the car park to the courts, on her hands. So good was her body balance. I feel, as things are, Serena is a good prospect for the Women’s Grand Slam this year. The French Open will decide this.
‘My Way’
Serena is 31 now and has few more good years in front of her. When Serena’s career ends, she will cast a long shadow and could be humming a song American Paul Anka wrote and another American Frank Sinatra sang: ‘I did it my way’ in her retirement. – georgepaldano@yahoo.com
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