News
Serena Cruises into Last 8
By Craig Gabriel
PARIS: The stadium court at Roland Garros which is known as Court Philippe Chatrier really is quite a lovely location in which to play tennis at the highest levels. It is the biggest and most important clay court in the world.
The rust red court is bordered by courtside signage that is a pale aqua green edged with red geraniums and then the whole place in framed by seats that are a deep green colour. It's all color co-ordinated and something like that fits in perfectly for a style and design connoisseur like Serena Williams.
The second seed took to the court in a dress by Nike that was two tone - a salmon orange and charcoal grey with the headband to match in the grey.
Serena played Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada and it was their second meeting. The last time they met was last year, on hardcourt, in Stanford in the semi-finals and Wozniak won after Serena retired in the second set with injury.
This performance in the first match of the day, the morning after four time champion Rafael Nadal's dramatic exit from the tournament, which remained the biggest talking point, was vintage Serena Williams. She struck the ball like there was no tomorrow. She moved without effort around the court and she dominated the 24th seeded Canadian from every angle.
It took Serena just 53 minutes to secure the 6-1, 6-2 result and it was her best performance of this year's French Open. And when Wozniak sent her forehand return into the bottom of the net on match point, Serena clenched her fist and shouted "c'mon". It signalled she is ready to take on the title.
"I feel like it was my most focused match so far. I was able to stay focused throughout," Serena said. "My dad just told me some things he wanted me to work on. And, you know, just going out there I felt what I wanted to do, and I just tried to do it."
This was a very stylish performance.
She will now come up against Svetlana Kuznetsova, someone Serena knows very well.
"This is when everything counts, you know," Serena said. "I have to pick up my level and play again a really good, strong match, especially playing somebody like Svetlana who is a great clay court player and who moves extremely well and doesn't do anything bad. So it will be a good test."
I wish you good luck and hope that HIS grace will be upon you to bring the golden fleece back to the USA. We are all bold behind you. More grease to your elbow! It is cheeeeeriooooooooooooo!
congratulations. vous avez joué un match parfait aujourd'hui. nous sommes confiantes pour la suite su tournoi good luck
hello serena,congrats for the victory today,please dont relax because u know u have to prove to everybody that u are capable of lifting this trophy again,to that now.and also remember to make it serena slam for the second time this year after so many years.all the best.daniel from vienna,Austria
Wow Queen! you are definitely a force to be reckoned with. May God continue to bless you in all that you do. Your foundation and passion for education proves that you are more than the world's greatest female athlete, you are a child of God. From the Queen of Midwestern Hip-Hop, rooted in Chicago... NewSense! Play on baby Girl..... I can't wait to meet you
all the best once again,daniel
Hi serena,I know you can win the french open.God bless you.
I urge everyone to start praying for Serena. She is in the quarterfinals and its important everyone pray for her until the very end. Form and a pray chain and begin to pray for her. May my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Bless Serena. Ann..........................................
hi, Serena, a big congratulations on this smooth transition. this is another perfect year for a SERENASLAM so pls do remain focused cos all eyes are on you now (as usual).............we'll take it all the way to the win. YOu know you are simply the best .God bless you.
Hey Baby Girl...keep it up Serena! What a masterful performance today! That's what I call "Classic Serena Game" right there! ONLY THREE MORE MATCHES TO GO! COME ON...YOU'RE MORE THAN HALF-WAY THERE!! YOU CAN DO IT! Stay focused, keep moving those FEET, hit DEEP AT Svetlana's FEET and return CLEANLY! Don't get flustered if something bad happens. Nevermind all that! It's beneath & behind you! Just stay focused point in, and point out...and you do what you have to do! You can TAKE THIS! Just stay focused and play the game that you know to play. Hit those angles, keep those feet moving, play cleanly and don't go for TOO-TOO much...just enough to keep it deep and take the winner when you see it. Stay focused and you will be cruising ONCE AGAIN into the Semi-Finals!!! Keep it up Serena, we are ALL SO PROUD OF YOU!! Love & Hugs, JR Williams.
its a great performance..Serana.!!
Hi Serena, you really are playing great. Svetlana is a good player but at the end of the day, I have confidence you'll be jumping with joy with another win. Love seeing you enjoying it all. Xoooo.
Great for you Serena! You really edged past her quickly. It seems like you've found your game and i bet that you'll do extremely well against Kuznetsova. 3 more matches and you'll be where you've got to be. I can't wait to see you storm into the final next saturday!
Eight is a wonderful number and feeling! So feel anew! Be wonderful-Serena.
Congratulations Serena! I knew you could do it. Continue your conquest. You have a good opponent in Kuznetsova, but as with anyone else, if you stay focused and move well, this to shall pass.
To prasanna goonewardena.. THIS IS A FAN SITE.. TAKE YOUR NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT SERENA (OR VENUS) ELSEWHERE.
goonewardena this is a fan site . i am not a fan of ivanovic / jankovic so i dont go to their web site. since you are not a fan please stay away. grow up
Great job Serena, You are the Best. Good Luck against Svetlana This is YOUR tournament, its your time. Go for SERENA SLAM II. You go GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please make it to the end!!! beat kuznetsova, I know that will be hard maybe a 3 setter but if she can be beat, atleast jankovic is out that is the main thing for the semifinal, I know cristea or sam don't have a game like you do. And hopefully Azarenka will take out Dinara!:) lol and then the draw it will be wonderful for you... Im praying for you to make it to the final...kiaha
hi serena soy decolombia y me agrada mucho su juego seria rico y genial algun dia ver un partido en vivo esas ganas que q le metes a el juego siempre te sigo eres genial cuidate te envio un abrazo desde buenaventura colombia suerte en tus mejores momentos
Great Job Serena, keep it up. You are the best and I know you can beat all the russians left (including Safina). As for prasanna goonewardena, please shut your mouth and leave this site. I hate people like you prasanna goonewardena.
Miss Serena to wake up at 4.30 am here in Venezuela to see you playing that extraordinary match against Wosniac was the sweetest experienced I have had in this moment in my convoluted nation. Thanks for bringing this message of peace and hope with your racket, showing that perfection is possible if you believe in it and work hard for it , but anyhow I want to continue whatching you playing like that. please. You do more with your racket for my people than a politician with one million of words of false promises.
Well Serena â«â«â« Time for Svetlana Kuznetsova to face the music, and I think theyâre playing your tune â«â« â«â«. I heard what you said about how women's tennis is better then men's because women are cattier. That gave me a cool idea. Wouldn't women's tennis be a lot more fun to watch, and play, if you mix women's tennis with WWF wrestling? Like before the game you would have it planed out what youâre going to do to each other to make fake drama. Like your all just putting on a show and all, but just think of the fans reactions if you came out on the court and Martinez Sanchez walked near you and all of a sudden your both going round and round pulling at each other and then Venus comes running out of the locker room and joins in the fake fight and then the referees get in between you all to stop it, then you go on and play your game with your clothes slightly ripped and your trash talking your opponent on the other side of the net, staring each other down and everything like they do on WWF wrestling. Then after the game is over you would all get together and laugh about the show you put on. Wouldnât that be a riot? And also have it so WTA would give you extra drama points for the players who can put on the best show between points to add to your rankings. That would make womenâs tennis a LOT more popular then menâs tennis; you would have the stadium packed. There would be a lot more money to go around too so everybody would be happy. Well, what do you think, you did say youâre an entertainer, wouldnât that be good entertainment? Or at least it would be a good plot for a funny entertaining movie.
Serena whats up? holla Fredweeezaaay!!
Hello Serena! Greetings from Macedonia!You are THE most popular tennis player in my country,but hey i bet you hear this every day.Just want to wish you good luck with Svetlana.YOu OWN her.YOU'll sweep her out in less than an hour.Because you have the power!YOu just stayed focus like with the game with the Canadian.I know you can do it!Keep it up and i'll be rallying for you!!!!!Cheers!
Hello Serena! Greetings from Macedonia!You are THE most popular tennis player in my country,but hey i bet you hear this every day.Just want to wish you good luck with Svetlana.YOu OWN her.YOU'll sweep her out in less than an hour.Because you have the power!YOu just stayed focus like with the game with the Canadian.I know you can do it!Keep it up and i'll be rallying for you!!!!!Cheers!
Good luck Serena against Svetlana! Put your heart in your game, the heart already knows the way..:) You can do it! Fingers crossed & all the best! Go for it! I.
Keep on rolling Serena! You can do it!! When that french title!
may the good lord be with u as u come back home with the golden.
Hello Serena, je vous adore ! Bonne chance pour votre prochain match, ce serait chouette de vous voir gagner ce tournoi... On y croit !!!
Hi Serena congratulation but it is not over yet we are waiting for the trophy and almighty God will see you through and i wish to be part of the celebration. God luck cheers
Hi Serena, my name is Phoebe Joseph. I am one of Jehovah's Witness. I just wanted to remind you that the 2009 district convention has started. I would like to warmly invite you and your family to attend which ever one you can attend. You will not regret it. We had ours at the West Palm Beach Christian Convention Center May 29-31. It was amazing!!! Jehovah really has provided abundantly by giving us a survival guide. There will be another one June 5-7...Which will start at 9:20 everyday. The theme of the convention is "Keep on the Watch" District Convention. If you are in FL, you may contact the christian convention center at this number: (561) 491- 5300. You may also ask them for one in your location if you will not be in FL. I pray that you and family can attend. Agape, Phoebe
Congrats on the win. As a neighbor from Jupiter FL, and huge fan, I am proud of your accomplishments.
GO SERENA!! If you can beat Kuzzie you definitely can beat either player in the semis! Oh and Phoebe please don't post anymore things relating to the jehovah witness cult...I find it very hypocritical that you would be having your false gospel meeting in a Christian Convention Center seeing as a JW is not a Christian! In fact, Jehovah Witnesses hate Jesus Christ! That's why anything relating to his divinty is altered in your so called "correct" New World translation of the Bible. Anyhow...Go GO GO Serena!!!
Serena,girl your playing like you did when you were seventeen. Get your rest and just take it easy.I dont see anyone beating you,not the way your playing! The trophy is yours girl.GO GET IT!
You are the #1 player in the world. Good luck with your up coming match with Svetlana!
Serena, I'm so proud to see you get to the quarters, but I'd like to see you go even further. Please play your best, and put all of your heart into the match. Like I said many times before, you have the mental toughness to beat anyone on any given day. That's a weakness unfortunately for many of the women left in the draw. So you have a very strong advantage! Go for the gusto! I will be rooting for you all the way to the very end. Keep your head up to the sky. Love Ya! Leisha
Hi Serena, I wish you a happy day tomorrow. Your game is looking really great. I'll be eating Oreo cookies and drinking Gatorade while watching your match. Good luck playing your friend.
Hello Serena, i wish you good luck today against Kuznetsov.
Nne baby,may God be with u'and may he help you to win the french open in jesus name amen.
Stay strong Serena! WeÂŽre with you! Good luck once again! You can do it!!
I wish you all the best as you step out on the court, you shall win,you know who holds you together. xx
Hi Guys, this has to get to Serena now, call her if you can.I would have loved to send this via the twitter etc, but I could not, anyway since I would like you to win, I will say it here: * When your opponent is out of position, don't overplay easy shots Serena! * Watch out her wide serves and solid backhand down the line, they are extremely effective. 1. You should play a lot of angles to make her tired, once she's tired, she makes a lot of errors. 2. You should not play any balls down the middle except when it's really necessary, because 3. This would make it easy for S to make you run from left to right and make you tired very fast. She would put you on a yo yo string, side to side.So please try and avoid that. 4. Again, when your opponent is out of position, don't overplay easy shots! every point counts! just calm down and execute! 5. Remember, angles helped you become the great player you are, use them,combined with your power, they're effective. Remember what I said for V, at Wimbledon, against Sharapova? angles! angles! angles! 6. Your strongest weapon, confidence even when facing adversity, use wide serves too! her return will be less effective! Good luck and God bless.Jay.
Good luck with your match against Kuznetsova, Serena! Even though you are friends off-court, you have to show her who's better on clay. Take this match one point, one game, one set at a time. I'm praying hard and thinking positive for you. You've got lots of fans here in the Philippines. On to the semi-finals!
Serena, bummer, you have my condolences for this match. Now time to get ready for the next one.
Good luck Serena!
Hi girl just saw your game and I feel so sorry for you that you could not overcome Kuzzie. But you did a good job(easy to say this afterwards, i know) You did come back but it was too late. Generally you did very well on clay. You said prevously you love to play on clay but clay does'nt love you LOL. Accept what comes to you totally and completely so that you can appreciate it, learn from it, and then let it go. Keep up the good spirit and see you soon on court. Bless xoxo Hotpants
Hi girl just saw your game and I feel so sorry for you that you could not overcome Kuzzie. But you did a good job(easy to say this afterwards, i know) You did come back but it was too late. Generally you did very well on clay. You said prevously you love to play on clay but clay does'nt love you LOL. Accept what comes to you totally and completely so that you can appreciate it, learn from it, and then let it go. Keep up the good spirit and see you soon on court. Bless xoxo Hotpants
me tienes loco con tu belleza y profesionalismo. te amo desde lejos.
You have a lot of heart, Serena! That second set comeback was fierce. No worries about not advancing in the F.O., because you will be back. Feel better soon, and I look foreward to seeing you and Venus in an all Williams final again. Luv ya'!
Oh comme je suis déçu ! Mais le principal est que tu t'es bien battue Serena. Je suis de tout coeur avec toi pour la suite et notamment Wimbledon ! Good Luck !
It was really difficult for you today Serena! Sussane Lengeln is a real slow court! But WE ALL LOVE YOU! It is a shame that we can't have a Serena Slam again but we hope for next year ;) ! You are the best player ever, keep trying!
SERENA, I WATCHED THE THIRD SET OF THE MATCH AND I AGREE THAT YOU TIGHTEN UP NEAR THE END. YOU PLAYED GOOD AND I WISH YOU LUCK AT WIMBLEDON. RELAX AND GET SOME REST. DOC
hello Serena. how are you. i am a fan of yours. i just stop to congratulate you on your french tournament. you did well. eventhogh you did not make it to the end you stilll did excellent. in life we win sometimes and loose.never give and u will do well. have a wonderful evening and i wish u all the best.Feigel Niles
It's okay Serena. Get focused for Wimbledon. I'll be watching! There is a time for everything. So, get to it. Love ya. Say hi to Venus and the family.
DavidSutton's main purpose in commenting was not to encourage Serena, Phoebe, but to spew his venomous hatred about JW's. If he were updated, he would know that we do follow the Christ, Jesus, that's why we are here. But that's okay. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and I heard that the Convention was extremely encouraging. Ours will be in Dekalb, IL at the Convocation Center at the college, July 17-19. I can't wait! Anyone not accepting us does not respect or care about Serena and Venus either.
I wish that you would stop putting pressure on yourself and just do your thang and give it your all. You do not have to prove anything to anyone. And next stop....Wimbledon! I am ready to see your Wimbledon whites, so feel better! The season finale of 'Make Me a Supermodel' featured your gorgeous picture, Serena, taken by Timothy Greenfield Sanders. I love that photo from the museum (I saw it on 'The Black List').
Looks lyke U're entering The Mastress Level of Playing,cOngratz !!!
Hi Serena I love you lots! The tournaments wouldn't be the same without you and Venus. I was really sad you lost but I know soon I will be celebrating again!
Im a big fan as well as a player, but your comments post match wednesday fell short of someone of your stature and was very poor sportsmanship even if what you said was true which it clearly was not. all the best- tennis fan
Im a big fan as well as a player, but your comments post match wednesday fell short of someone of your stature and was very poor sportsmanship even if what you said was true which it clearly was not. all the best- tennis fan
Lydia I'm really not trying spew any hate. I just get really frustrated as a Christian when a false gospel is being preached and the Bible even warns us against false gospel's and false teachers. You may follow Christ, but not the Christ of the Bible. I'm not going to judge anyone's salvation, but when you advertise and blatantly put your views out there when we're supposed to be talking about Serena and her tennis I'm going to stand up for my faith as well!! Sorry, but that's how it goes...You cannot have the Father, Jehovah, if you don't have the Son, Jesus Christ! I pray that you will trust in Jesus as your Savior, God in the flesh, his Son, our Messiah and not in your man made religion which blatantly translates the Bible in such a way that takes out anything relating to Jesus being God. I will pray for you and Phoebe both that you will have a relationship with God, through Christ...the real Christ that is!! Oh and GOOOO SERENA!!!
I am a fan as well as an admirer of serena williams. I was devastated when she went out of Roland Garros. Anyway, i wish her d best in d remain part of the season
Hello until to say you that I know well Serena WILLIAMS she is not a Diva and She is a Fashion queen but and I know well also Layla and Mickie James they are beautiful natural and intelligence I love much Layla and Mickie James but to my eye and in my heart Serena WILLIAMS she is my only a beautiful Women that I choose to for marry because Serena WILLIAMS she beautiful natural intelligence I love much her beauty and her body-size and She is value a woman a woman and a wise I cry to have Serena WILLIAMS for me if it is really Possible if she can love me and God Want give me chance and also I want to have your with Please? because all thing are Possible with God this is my address my email etystar98@yahoo.fr tadilewamaxndongala@hotmail.com and my number fromDrinkable the 00243999172081 thank you very much Sign ETIENNE NDONGALA
Hello my dear Serena WILIAMS how are you? until to have your news Serena I am Sorry because you will not win Roland Garros but you stay the best to the WTA Serena you will win other tournamed keep your faith in Eternal your God and my God if you have time you can write me ETIENNE good luck Serena WILLIAS I love you much Serena WILIAMS and that God bless you Serena WILLIAMS because all thing are Possible with God this is my address my email etystar98@yahoo.fr tadilewamaxndongala@hotmail.com and my number fromDrinkable the 00243999172081 thank you very much Sign ETIENNE NDONGALA
Well, Roland Garros is finally over. I never dreamed it would of ended this way. It was only a couple of weeks long but seemed to last for months. Svetlana can play tennis but it was mostly luck she won the title. Iâm glad Roger won; he fought for it all the way. Safina choked the whole match; she really did not fight at all. I know what Safina said last Thursday is haunting her now, she said. âIf I donât fight in a Grand Slam, being No 1 in the world, then obviously Iâm not deserving of this spot,â She didn't fight. She would of won if she hadnât of choked. And like Serena, Safina said it was her fault she lost. Svetlana sure was lucky; for her it was like hitting the lottery! Serena may have beaten herself, but she did fight to the end. And now Rafael is having health problems. . .
Hey Serena, Wish you the best at Wimbledon! Hope you can make at least one District Assembly this year! It's really Awesome...Jehovah's been good to you. It's time to give back. and GOOOO Serena! We're all rooting for you!
Hey Serena, Just thought I'll share this article with you (you probably might have come across something similar, please don't prove them right). Titled: The Venus and Serena Williams Dominance is Over. By Larry Brown | January 23, 2008 The recent grand slam results for each of them speak loudly, starting with the quarterfinal exit by both Venus and Serena at the Australian Open. The sisters are still top 10 players who can go far in the tournaments, but itâs no longer a lock that at least one sister will reach the finals, or even semifinals of a grand slam event. Venus Williams expressed the same sentiment in her post-match comments following her quarterfinal loss to Ana Ivanovic. As Venus said, she and Serena are playing at a good level, itâs just that the competition is improving (and surpassing them, I believe). Itâs also a matter of the two women being past their peaks, which is typically at a much younger age for women in tennis than men. Usually at a grand slam event, one of them goes far, if not both. If one goes out early, at least the other goes farther, like to the semis or finals. Iâm not saying that they should be pulling titles left and right â that is unreasonable. The reality of the situation is that there are several good, young players in the game today who can knock either one out. No, Iâm not completely writing the sisters off here, but I will say it without a doubt, this Australian Open marked the definite end of dominance by the Williams sisters. I think Iâm being fair when I say Iâll give them one more grand slam title between the two of them for the rest of their careers. Here's the link:http://larrybrownsports.com/tennis/the-venus-and-serena-williams-era-of-dominance-is-over/1250
SERENA I WROTE TO ESPN AND OTHER SPORTS STATION TO LET THEM KNOW HOW WRONG THE FRENCH OPEN WAS BY REMOVING MARTINEZ INTERVIEWS AND THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAME YOU PLAYED, WHEN THE BALL HIT HER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. CAN YOU PLAY IT ON YOUR SIGHT. IF YOU HAD DONE THIS, THE MEDIA WOULD HAVE HAD A FIELD-DAY, DAYS, WEEKS, PLAYING THIS, FEEDING THIS INTO THE HEARTS AND MIND OF YOUNG GIRLS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR GAME. IT SHOWS HOW YOU ARE HATED AT THIS LEVEL. ITS THE MONEY HONEY. THE MEDIA WANTS YOUR FANS AND OTHER TO HATE YOU AND START A DISLIKE FOR YOU BY FINDING NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY AND ALSO USE YOUR SISTER TOO. AS AFRICAN AMERICAN WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHAT THE MEDIA DOES AT THIS LEVEL. HOPE ONE DAY THEY WILL SEE HOW STRONG WE ALL ARE AND WILL FIGHT FAIR. GOD BLESS YOU IN WIMB.
Hey Serena, we know you are focused on Wimbledon and we are all routing for you. Girl grass is your thing and just be cool don't let these knuckleheads get to you. You know who you are and what you can do. And may I say you do it well!! Well it's something I want to talk to you about and it's about these few young girls (black) coming after you that will take your place years from now but we have to help them get there. You are not on our seat yet, but believe me when I say it is a joy to rush home to put on my tv to watch you play, it is not such a joy to watch 'the rest', or else I won't be paying cable or the tennis channel and trust me you would feel the same way when it's all over and you begin to sit on that couch. There are only a handful of them (teenagers) out there and there are a few getting help but some are not. I do not want to put names here but they adore you and look up to you girls so show them some love by reaching out before it is too late. There is one in particular that you girls spent some time with and could really do with your aura, strength and wisdom. The Russians do it, the spaniards do it why not we too. Reach out today email me at editorbwis@yahoo.com and I'll talk to you guys closer. Please, please don't disappoint these girls. AND GO GET THEM AT WIMBLEDON, WE'LL BE ROUTING FOR YOU AND VENUS. Bring back that trophy!! LUV, LUV!
Hi,i just want to let you know that it pains me alot when you loose a match and very happy to see you win.I wish you good luck.
Hi my friend Serena,I know you are very sad because are losed in France,but yourself you know I love you,when you win or you lose you are my only Serena,so don,t worry you will win another day. I am weiting you in Ingland
SolangeJD tjek me op tiwtter 1lovebabygigi
Hi serena, l hope it is well with you,and l wish you all the best at wimbledon and l konw you and venus will do well,God bless you.
Hi serena, l hope it is well with you,and l wish you all the best at wimbledon and l konw you and venus will do well,God bless you.
Building schools around the world Help kids read and write They may have a better life Role Model Super model Run way Fashion model Booty Hips Watch her run with all them hips Ace deuce Set game Watch out Sheâs on her game Body like a coke bottle Holly wood Hot shorts and boots Hot babe Bikini shoots Men watching slide and shoots Jackie running wild and loose ate the whole turkey running loose hot Fierce hot Black stallion She sayâs sheâs not dramatic Serena Williams Is just fantastic My friend call me on the phone Serenaâs game is on Serena up one set she might Just win the second set Sheâs won nine Grand slams Make room for another slam Australia England USA Sheâs even won the French on clay One leg Bad leg All broke up She just fight she want give up A lot of bad Calls Hen jen all over again They boo her No cheers Playing hard She show no fears Sheâs feeling all alone you see what âs going on her A game is on I feel her coming on she want back down right now she pumps her fist and howl There she stand tall The greatest champ of all
Serena, You are the best!!! I played tennis in the '60s, (both high school and college) when they said big girls could not play tennis. My daughter who is 6ft was told the same thing SO you are our hero and proven yes, BIG GIRLS CAN PLAY TENNIS AND THEY ARE DAMN GOOD AT IT!!! Can't wait to see you play in Stanford!!!