Australian Open: Serena Williams absorbs parental stress to wind back the clock

James Pavey

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Australian Open: Serena Williams absorbs parental stress to wind back the clock image

Having watched Frozen nearly 3000 times, and Beauty and the Beast 4000 times, Serena Williams had every right to feel knackered on Monday night.

She pushed world No.1 Simona Halep to three pulsating sets on centre court, Williams sealing a 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory in an hour and 47 minutes.

It was by far and away the American's toughest match so far - in her three previous matches in Melbourne, she spent little over an hour on court each time as she recorded three straight sets wins on the bounce.

However, Halep - 10 years Williams' junior - found her way back into the contest after the American hit 10 winners to three in the one-sided first set to draw level.

MORE: 'Innate fighter' Serena says character key to beating Halep | Carreno Busta's outburst fuelled by controversial call

They went blow for blow in the decider, but Williams found the decisive break to win into her 50th Grand Slam quarter-final.

In her on-court interview after the match, 37-year-old Williams conceded it was a "miracle I'm here and I get to do something I enjoy".

That's no surprise - her last major title, the 2017 Australian Open, came when she was with child. Eight months later, just three weeks before her 36th birthday, she required a caesarean-section delivery due to complications, but welcomed Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. into the world.

"We have movie night every night, but we had it this afternoon because I had a night match, but she loved it," Williams said of her daughter.

"She's sleeping now, we're going to have a fun morning tomorrow."

Williams is getting pretty good at juggling a tennis career and parenthood - she reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals last year shortly into her comeback.

However, her 16-month-old's favourite two movies must be wearing thin - just ask her husband.


"I think I've seen Frozen 3000 times and then I've seen Beauty and the Beast 4000 and it's just like… I can recite it, I know all the songs, it's like, 'Oh my gosh'," she said.

"It's just those two! And I'm like, 'Olympia, there's a plethora of movies to choose from, can you choose another one?' And she's just like, 'Da-da-da'."

Her motherly touch was on show as she produced an incredible moment of sportsmanship after her win over Dayana Yastremska.

After Williams sealed her 10th consecutive straight sets win in Melbourne, Yastremska broke down in tears at the net.

Williams immediately rushed over to her, placed a hand on her shoulder and told her she played well.


Williams is just one slam title away from matching Margaret Court's haul of 24, but the Australian still holds the distinction over the American as having won a slam after having children.

In fact, only three women in history have achieved the feat.

Before Court gave birth to her first child in 1971, she had already captured 21 Grand Slam singles titles. When she returned, she won the Australian, French and US Opens in 1973.

Four years later, countrywoman Evonne Goolagong had won five major singles titles before she gave birth to her first child. She wouldn't stay still, coming back just seven months after giving birth, and won the Australian Open first cab off the rank. She then won Wimbledon in 1980, and remains the only player to do so in the Open Era after giving birth.

Kim Clijsters has the rare distinction of winning more Grand Slams after becoming a mother than before.

Clijsters won the 2005 US Open as a 22-year-old, but announced her retirement within three years after she fell pregnant. She made a comeback in 2009, and remarkably won the US Open in the same year, becoming the first WTA player to win a major as a wildcard.

The Belgian would later win two more Grand Slams - the 2010 US Open and 2011 Australian Open - before again retiring in 2012.

Serena Williams

Sunday night's match was a rare occasion, with the world's top-ranked player a heavy underdog in the shadow of a legend with 23 major titles, seven of them in Australia alone.

The head-to-head didn't favour Halep either, with the Romanian now sitting on one win from 10 matches against Williams.


 

For the American, it was just another chapter in an ever-growing book.

"It's a part of this journey on my way back. It's 10 months [into my comeback], so I can't be too upset at myself. I felt like I did have an opportunity to win that in straight sets, but then I'm playing the No.1 player in the world," Williams later said in her post-match press conference.

"So I'm still learning, which is, at my age and my point in my career, I think admirable and exciting that I still have things I can learn from."

James Pavey

James Pavey Photo