The Season That Almost Was...
Serena Williams started off 2007 with a bang by winning the Australian Open title again beating Maria Sharapova in the finals. A month or so later, she beat World Number One, Justine Henin, to win the Sony Ericsson tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida. Serena seemed to be back at the very top of women’s tennis and capable of beating anyone and everyone. However, since then injuries have crept back into her world in a big way. Tennis fans will remember Serena writhing in
pain at Wimbledon with a calf muscle cramp/pull. However, it was the thumb sprain from her fall in that moment which ruined her chances at a Wimbledon title and left her with no preparation for the last Grand Slam of the year. At the U.S. Open, Serena she lost again to Justine Henin in the quarters who had also beaten her in the French Open and Wimbledon quarters. A knee injury ended Serena’s hopes of closing the year on a winning note when she had to withdraw from the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid after retiring in the middle of her first round robin match. Sadly this is what happens all too often… the injuries start to appear and one injury leads to inactivity which then often leads to a new and different injury on the comeback trail. It’s a tough road to continually rehab from one injury after another and eventually it wears on even the most determined of champions. Serena Williams has a couple months to rest and rehabilitate yet again. In the past, Serena has shown an amazing ability to come back and win with practically no match practice beforehand. However, each year that task becomes a little bit harder. Serena is only 26, but it’s been a tough couple years injury-wise since she dominated the game consistently a few years ago. Therefore, the first six months of 2008 will offer a illuminating glimpse of Serena’s future prospects.
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