US Open favouritism tag ‘interesting’, says Serena Williams

Since returning to tennis following the birth of her daughter, Serena Williams has already reached a Grand Slam final and re-entered the top 30.

As a result, it’s tempting – and understandable – to view her as one of the favourites for the upcoming US Open, a title she has won six times before.

Williams, however, tried to downplay such discussion when she fronted the media at the weekend.

FEATURE: Stephens altering perceptions as US Open looms

“That I would be the favorite at this point, almost a year after having a baby, is quite interesting,” she said. “I feel like everything is just different in terms of I’m living a different life, I’m playing the US Open as a mom. It’s just new and it’s fresh.”

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, has constantly reiterated that she is “literally just beginning” in her return to the game after a 13-month absence spanning pregnancy, childbirth and a complicated recovery.

However, she is technically six months into her comeback, having reappeared at Indian Wells in March and playing a total of six events.

This will be her third major tournament of 2018 and, unsurprisingly, she has exhibited her best on the big stage, advancing to the fourth round in Paris before her inspiring run to the Wimbledon final.

“If anything, I have more fire in my belly (now). It’s very difficult to describe. I thought after having a child I would be more relaxed. I think I’ve said this before, but I’m not,” she said.

“I work just as hard if not harder actually. I just feel like I take it just as serious if not more. That’s been really surprising for me.”

That fire in the belly will come in handy in New York, where as the 17th seed she has landed in a stacked section of the draw featuring major champions Simona Halep, Venus Williams, Garbine Muguruza and Svetlana Kuznetsova, as well as 2016 finalist Karolina Pliskova, who beat her in the semifinals that year.

She comes in following a less-than-ideal lead up in the US summer hard court season during which she played just three matches, and lost two.

REPORT: Kvitova beats Serena in Cincinnati classic

Serena says she doesn’t know what her path at Flushing Meadows looks like, but it could throw up Venus or Kuznetsova as early as the third round and world No.1 Halep in the fourth.

“I feel like I’m going to have to play. If I want to be the best, I’m going to have to start beating these people, anyway. It doesn’t matter to me,” she said.

“If anything, I can just continue to strive. That’s the message I’ve been preaching to women and people – that we face obstacles. You have to face those obstacles. Whether you get through them or not, there’s always another chance to get through them.

“You have to continue to work hard and believe in yourself. Things don’t always go your way, but continue to climb that mountain.”

Williams opens against Poland’s Magda Linette in the first match of the Arthur Ashe Stadium night session on Monday.