NEW YORK – Serena Williams must shake off the ghosts of the
past as she makes another attempt to seal a record-equalling 24th
grand slam title in a battle of the generations against millennial
Bianca Andreescu in the US Open final on Saturday.
Williams, 37, won her so far last major in January 2017 at the
Australian Open when she was already pregnant. She has then lost all
three finals at the majors since her return last year from maternity
leave as she still chases Margaret Court's record.
The American lost Wimbledon finals against Angelique Kerber and
Simona Halep and most notably last year at Flushing Meadows against
Naomi Osaka - the match overshadowed by her spat with chair umpire
Carlos Ramos who docked her a point and later a game for swearing and
illegal coaching.
But Williams insisted that match "hasn't really crossed my mind."
It is however not only Court's record that is at stake on Saturday on
the world's biggest tennis court that is the 24,000-seat Arthur Ashe
Stadium.
With victory, Williams would break a tie with former great Chris
Evert with a 102nd win at the tournament overall and a seventh
trophy.
Furthermore she would extend her record of being the oldest women's
grand slam champion to 37 years 347 days. She also has the biggest
gap between a first and so far last title at the majors, 19 years 362
days since her maiden trophy in 1999.
"Obviously there's a lot of things that I've learned in the past, but
I just have to go out there, above all, most of all, just stay
relaxed. There's so many different emotions in finals. It just brings
out so many highs and lows, nerves and expectations. It's a lot," she
said.
Williams, who has been plagued by various ailments through the year,
has been impressive so far in New York, thrashing Maria Sharapova
6-1, 6-1 in the first round, China's Wang Qiang 6-1, 6-0 in the
fourth, and fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-1 in the semis.
The veteran has only dropped one set, in the second round against
against teenaged compatriot Catherine McNally.
But now she runs into Andreescu who won the Toronto final last month
when Williams retired injured at 3-1 in their only previous meeting.
"She's a great player," Williams said of Andreescu who wasn't even
born when Williams triumphed for the first time at Flushing Meadows
in 1999.
Andreescu said: "I remember watching her when I was about 10. I don't
remember specifically a moment. I watched her win most of her Grand
Slam titles.
"I've wanted to play her. I remember always telling my team I would
have always wanted to play her right before she retires. I'm really
looking forward to it. She's an amazing champion on and off the
court. It's going to be fun."
Andreescu has risen meteorically through the rankings and into her
first final at the majors, by beating Swiss Belinda Bencic, 7-6
(7-3), 7-5.
"She mixes things up. You never know what is going to come from her.
She does everything else. She serves well, moves well, has a ton of
power," Williams said of her opponent.
"She's very exciting to watch. It's good. I think it's great for
women's tennis."
The youngster also has records on her mind, tying Monica Seles by
winning a maiden title in a fourth career slam participation, and
becoming the first Canadian woman to lift a trophy at one of the four
majors.
The 19-year-old has furthermore done what Williams is yet to achieve
this year, winning titles: at the Masters in Indian Wells and
Toronto. Andreescu has in fact not lost a match on court since the
Acapulco tournament in late February against Sofia Kenin.
She retired with shoulder problems in Miami and withdrew ahead of the
second round at the French Open, and did not return until Toronto -
followed by both her and Williams withdrawing from Cincinnati which
was the final US Open build-up event.
Now she can hardly believe her luck to be in the final - a year after
going out in the first round of qualifying.
"It's just crazy what a year can do," Andreescu said.