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Friday 12 July 2019

‘Not about 24’: Williams to face Halep in Wimbledon final

helped limit Strycova to 10
winners. “I just need to ...
relax and do what I can
do,” Williams said, referring
again to her deep thoughts
from the morning.
“I was calm today,” she
said, then rolled her eyes
and added: “It’s a day-to-
day basis with me. We all
know that. I’m far from per-
fect.”
Williams has been this close
to adding to her title to-
tal before: In 2018, her first
season back on tour after
the birth of her daughter,
Olympia, Williams reached
the finals at Wimbledon
and the U.S. Open but lost
each time.
That has left her Grand Slam
total at 23, a record for the
professional era that she
established when she won
the 2017 Australian Open
while pregnant — but one
fewer than Margaret Court
accumulated while playing
part of her career against
amateur competition.
At the All England Club, she
was beaten by Angelique
Kerber. At Flushing Mead-
ows, she was outplayed by
Naomi Osaka in a match
that descended into chaos
after Williams was docked
a game for a heated argu-
ment with the chair umpire.
She said in a first-person es-
United States’ Serena Williams returns to Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova during a women’s singles semifinal match on day ten say she wrote for Harper’s
of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 11, 2019. Bazaar that she met with
Associated Press a therapist and wrote to
By HOWARD FENDRICH “It’s really not about 24 or “I respect a lot what she Grand Slam semifinalist in Osaka to apologize for the
AP Tennis Writer 23 or 25. It’s really just about has done and what she’s the modern era, “it’s go- whole episode.
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) going out there and giving doing,” said Halep, who, ing to be very hard for Si- A rare show of emotion
— Hours before her Wim- my best effort, no matter like Williams, used to be mona.” from Williams on Thursday
bledon semifinal, Serena what. No matter what I do, ranked No. 1. “But now I After a three-set struggle could have been the semi-
Williams spent some time I will always have a great feel stronger, mentally, fac- against Alison Riske in the final’s turning point.
deep in thought and ar- career,” said Williams, who ing her. We will see what is quarterfinals Tuesday, Wil- Ahead 2-1 in the first set
rived at a couple of con- at 37 is the oldest woman going to happen. It’s just a liams was dominant against while Strycova served at 30-
clusions. to reach a Grand Slam fi- big challenge for me.” Strycova, who was limited all, Williams sailed a back-
For one thing, she shouldn’t nal in the professional era. For anyone, really, when by a leg muscle problem hand return way long and
focus too much on trying “Like, I just kind of let it go Williams is at her best. that cropped up in the very let out a cry of “Aaaaah!”
to raise her Grand Slam this morning.” And after an up-and-down first game. Maybe that got her going.
title total to 24, a number On Saturday, she will take first half of the year, due in Strycova would repeat- Williams seized seven points
achieved by just one other on No. 7-seeded Simona part to injury and illness, she edly flex or shake her legs in a row and 16 of 20 to
player in tennis history. And Halep of Romania, a 6-1, sure does appear to have between points or try to close out that set.
for another, she needs to 6-3 winner over No. 8 Elina lifted her level consider- stretch in her sideline chair Halep seemed headed for
stay calm on the court. Svitolina of Ukraine under a ably. by pulling her right foot a long day when her semi-
With that in mind, Williams cloudy sky at Centre Court. Williams was limited to 12 onto her left knee and final against Svitolina be-
went out Thursday and It’s the 11th final at the All matches in 2019 until last rocking her leg. gan with a pair of games
made it all look so easy, England Club for Williams, week. After a third-round Not an ideal situation. Es- encompassing 32 points
overwhelming Barbora the first for Halep, whose loss at Roland Garros on pecially when facing Wil- across 20 minutes. Five of
Strycova of the Czech Re- only major trophy came at June 1, she stayed in France liams if she’s this dialed-in. the first 11 points lasted at
public 6-1, 6-2 in 59 minutes the French Open last year. for medical treatment and Williams played cleanly, least 10 strokes; two went
to once again put herself They’ve played each other finally felt pain-free while accumulating nearly twice 23.
on the verge of an eighth 10 previous times, with Wil- preparing for Wimbledon. as many winners as un- Soon enough, though, Ha-
championship at the All liams winning nine, includ- “Well, if she will play like this forced errors, 28-10. lep was in control.
England Club and major ing a three-setter at the in the final,” said Stryco- She was at her usual court- Now comes a tougher task:
No. 24 overall. Australian Open in January. va, 33, the oldest first-time covering best, which beating Williams.q