Post by Taxigirl on Jul 3, 2004 9:54:16 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/3860923.stm
By Caroline Cheese
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
Serena Williams says it would be the "most special moment" of her career so far if she can clinch her third straight title in Saturday's Wimbledon final.
The top seed, who faces 17-year-old Maria Sharapova, underwent knee surgery after lifting the trophy a year ago and did not play again for eight months.
"It's a been a tough road back, I was really struggling," admitted Williams.
"It seems like people always expect me to win, but it's not that easy. I'm proud of myself to have come through."
However, Williams may have to face a frustrating delay before she walks out to defend her title on Saturday.
Heavy showers on Friday meant the men's semi-finals did not finish and the women's final will be preceded by the completion of the match between Roger Federer and Sebastien Grosjean.
Rain is also forecast for Saturday, but Williams is an experienced campaigner when it comes to preparing for Grand Slam finals.
The 22-year-old has already collected six Grand Slam titles, the last five of which have come at the expense of sister Venus.
She admits it will be an odd feeling not to see her sister on the other side of the net, but is not underestimating the challenge of Sharapova.
"I wish I was getting ready to fight Venus in the final, but I can't think about that," said Williams.
"Maria's a tough player. She's solid on all sides. She hits good angles. She's doesn't seem to get too distracted. I like that about her."
Williams was 17 when she won her first Grand Slam title, at the US Open in 1999, and insisted she was not nervous because "I knew I was going to win".
Sharapova, also 17, will make her first Grand Slam final appearance in Saturday's final, and also claimed she will not be affected by nerves.
"I haven't been nervous throughout this whole tournament, I've just been out enjoying myself," she said.
"Nerves are part of tennis. I like that part of it. It keeps you motivated, keeps you wanting to be in those situations and get out of them by winning."
The first Russian woman to reach a Wimbledon final in 30 years, Sharapova will have to bridge a huge gap in experience when she meets the former world number one and twice defending champion.
However, Sharapova said she is not concerned about the reputation of her opponent.
"Serena's a tough girl and a fighter and we share those similarities so I'm looking foward to a very tough match," she said.
"What I've been doing these past two weeks is just playing my game. It doesn't matter who I play.
"I just want to go out and I want to have fun. It's my first Wimbledon final. It's an amazing feeling."
By Caroline Cheese
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
Serena Williams says it would be the "most special moment" of her career so far if she can clinch her third straight title in Saturday's Wimbledon final.
The top seed, who faces 17-year-old Maria Sharapova, underwent knee surgery after lifting the trophy a year ago and did not play again for eight months.
"It's a been a tough road back, I was really struggling," admitted Williams.
"It seems like people always expect me to win, but it's not that easy. I'm proud of myself to have come through."
However, Williams may have to face a frustrating delay before she walks out to defend her title on Saturday.
Heavy showers on Friday meant the men's semi-finals did not finish and the women's final will be preceded by the completion of the match between Roger Federer and Sebastien Grosjean.
Rain is also forecast for Saturday, but Williams is an experienced campaigner when it comes to preparing for Grand Slam finals.
The 22-year-old has already collected six Grand Slam titles, the last five of which have come at the expense of sister Venus.
She admits it will be an odd feeling not to see her sister on the other side of the net, but is not underestimating the challenge of Sharapova.
"I wish I was getting ready to fight Venus in the final, but I can't think about that," said Williams.
"Maria's a tough player. She's solid on all sides. She hits good angles. She's doesn't seem to get too distracted. I like that about her."
Williams was 17 when she won her first Grand Slam title, at the US Open in 1999, and insisted she was not nervous because "I knew I was going to win".
Sharapova, also 17, will make her first Grand Slam final appearance in Saturday's final, and also claimed she will not be affected by nerves.
"I haven't been nervous throughout this whole tournament, I've just been out enjoying myself," she said.
"Nerves are part of tennis. I like that part of it. It keeps you motivated, keeps you wanting to be in those situations and get out of them by winning."
The first Russian woman to reach a Wimbledon final in 30 years, Sharapova will have to bridge a huge gap in experience when she meets the former world number one and twice defending champion.
However, Sharapova said she is not concerned about the reputation of her opponent.
"Serena's a tough girl and a fighter and we share those similarities so I'm looking foward to a very tough match," she said.
"What I've been doing these past two weeks is just playing my game. It doesn't matter who I play.
"I just want to go out and I want to have fun. It's my first Wimbledon final. It's an amazing feeling."