US Open 2018: Serena Williams' 'desire has not gone down'

By Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

Last updated on 3 September 2018.From the section Tennis146

Serena Williams says her motivation to win major trophies remains as high as ever in motherhood after reaching the US Open quarter-finals.

Williams, whose daughter Olympia turned one on Saturday, is aiming to win a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title in New York.

The 36-year-old American former world number one is playing her seventh tournament since giving birth.

"That desire has not gone down at all," she said.

"And I don't think it was capable of going up, because if it was at a 10, I was at a 15 or a 20 - and I'm still there."

Williams, seeded 17th, has been in fine form at Flushing Meadows, dropping her first set of the tournament before recovering to win 6-0 4-6 6-3 against Estonia's Kaia Kanepi on Sunday.

Winning the US Open for a seventh time would see her level Australian Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 majors.

Williams returned to Slam competition at the French Open in May, only to withdraw before her last-16 match against Maria Sharapova of Russia because of injury.

She then reached the Wimbledon final in July but lost to Germany's Angelique Kerber.

"My desire still remained at that incredibly high level to compete and to want to win," Williams said.

"It would be wonderful to win a Grand Slam while having a daughter, but it's a lot of work.

"It takes a lot of work to win those tournaments. I'm only in my third one back. I'm going to continue to grind and see what happens."

Meanwhile, Williams says she hopes to have more children in the future - but maybe not until after she finishes playing.

"Right now is not the time," she said. "I'm thinking about playing tennis and enjoying this time with Olympia.

"I'll have plenty of time in the future."

'It was a Serena scream'

Williams cruised to the first set in 18 minutes against Kanepi, only to see the world number 44 fight back to level in the second.

The Estonian missed two break points in the first game of the third set, allowing Williams to fight back and hold serve with a backhand winner, which brought out a loud yell of "come on" from her.

"It was a Serena scream," Williams said with a smile. "I don't try to do it. It just comes out.

"Winning a big game and a very important game and a really tight game, I think it was just a relief."

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146 comments

Comment posted by U17139910, at 08:20 3 Sep 2018
She had a baby? This is the first I've heard about it...please BBC give us more articles about this.
Comment posted by Furrowed Brow, at 07:43 3 Sep 2018
Any chance of a thread involving this woman that doesn't drone on about the fact she's had a baby? The way the BBC go on you'd think she was the only mother to ever return to work. Not as if she's under any hardship regarding child care costs, like millions of others. At this rate she'll win the O'seas SPOTY award just for giving birth!
Comment posted by Wildwood, at 08:13 3 Sep 2018
She's had a baby?!!

She kept that quiet.
Comment posted by Guido Pancaldi, at 08:42 3 Sep 2018
"That desire, for self-publicity, has not gone down at all," she said.
Comment posted by Lewlew, at 08:12 3 Sep 2018
My goodness Serena never had a baby did she?!?!
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 08:13 3 Sep 2018
A sycophantic rather nauseating article by the BBC about Williams. Every article about Williams has to include that she had a baby and she's a mother and she's making sacrifices. Without doubt the screaming by Williams needs to be reigned in by the officials as it definately puts opponents off. IMO It was clear that it impacted Kanepi. "It was a Serena scream," Williams said with a smile."
Comment posted by PosterMeerkat, at 08:04 3 Sep 2018
Gave up on women's tennis years ago to preserve my hearing.
Comment posted by ANDREW, at 08:09 3 Sep 2018
Sorry but am I missing something. What happened to taste and dress code?
Comment posted by pops1980, at 13:19 3 Sep 2018
One player I really wish had stayed in the womens game was Henin. She left the game, came back and took Serena to 3 sets, unseeded, at the Aussie final. Unfortunately she was given a rather stark prognosis by doctors and wisely chose to quit. What a beautiful backhand and her movement was incredible. I suspect she would have one a fair few more French Opens.
Comment posted by Sir Regulus, at 08:38 3 Sep 2018
I don’t believe this baby story, why do the media keep pushing it. Seems odd to me. Also she shouldn’t complain about the outfit, even S williams needs to abide by the Dress Code. The liberals will attack me now but I don’t care
Comment posted by Enjoy Yourself, at 09:23 3 Sep 2018
25. Posted by Marord on
4 minutes ago
Serena's performances in New York and at Wimbledon have certainly been aided by very favourable draws - part of the organisers' plan?
------
I think being good at tennis has more to do with it.
Comment posted by PosterMeerkat, at 09:16 3 Sep 2018
22. Posted by BBC61
on
1 minute ago

"18. Posted by kneesupBillyD

All this sniping at the comment that Serena has had a baby. How many men have come back to competitive tennis after having a baby?"

In actual fact, loads! Didn't Federer have twins?

++++

Twice!
Comment posted by Hibbardski, at 09:06 3 Sep 2018
[In two years time]

"Serena, 38, is playing only her 27th tournament since becoming a mother"
Comment posted by LivingDeadGrrrl, at 13:45 3 Sep 2018
@63 - I agree with what you're saying, but you can't say Seles would have won more slam titles than Graf if it weren't for the horrible incident, because she didn't. Just like you can't say Borg would have won more slam titles than Sampras if he hadn't retired early and if he had played the Australian Open. He didn't. Seles probably would have won more and Graf less, but it's speculation not fact.
Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 11:11 3 Sep 2018
@ 40, 41, 45 Finkelstein

There has been an HYS on the Stephens match all morning. Only 2 people have shown any interest in it.

Your other comment is a bit disingenuous posts aren’t removed if they are as polite as you say.
Comment posted by U16231627, at 10:39 3 Sep 2018
Those of you complaining about the Beeb's obsession with Serena and her baby, have seen nothing yet, You just wait until she finally retires and joins the Wimbledon commentary team alongside Clare Balding.
Comment posted by KGT2610, at 12:51 3 Sep 2018
@39 Charlie

True that Williams has played longer than Graf but it took Williams 780 matches to get 23 slams and Graf played 900 to get 22... so technically played less tennis...

Numbers and stats can always be played with to suit.

Same as I think Serena and Graf to be better than Margaret Court but 24 slams will always be greater than 23 and 22.
Comment posted by shaund, at 11:49 3 Sep 2018
Who cares for that woman?
We don't like her!!

Steffi Graf was a better player and a proper sportswoman, graceful on and off the court.
SW is not a nice human being
Comment posted by Charlie 1, at 10:29 3 Sep 2018
Serena GOAT? Took her playing 6 more years and 20 odd slams to get 1 more than Steffi Graf. Steffi never missed a drug test.!
Comment posted by LivingDeadGrrrl, at 12:51 3 Sep 2018
The one reason I consider Steffi as better than Serena is her 1988 calendar year grand slam plus Olympic gold. If Serena had done the CYGS I'd say she's better, but the holy grail of tennis is so rare it takes someone special to do it.
Complaining about the Seles tragedy is speculating on what might have been, history is not written about "ifs and buts".
I agree Steffi was gracious win or lose.

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