Tiger Woods Masters Victory Is An Inspiration To Me- Serena Williams
12th July 2019
The American superstar lost just three games to her 33-year-old semi-final opponent Barbora Strycova in easing to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in less than an hour on Thursday
- Tiger Woods's remarkable Masters win this year at the age of 43 serves as an inspiration to Serena Williams, who is just three years shy of 40 herself, she said after reaching her 11th Wimbledon final on Thursday
- Williams, who if she beats Simona Halep on Saturday will equal Margaret Court's Grand Slam singles haul of 24, believes that technology has helped her continue to succeed even afer taking time out to have a baby
- Williams, whose early part of the season was affected by a knee injury, said it was not just her and Woods who were enjoying extended careers
LONDON, United Kingdom- Tiger Woods's remarkable Masters win this year at the age of 43 serves
as an inspiration to Serena Williams, who is just three years shy of 40
herself, she said after reaching her 11th Wimbledon final on Thursday.
Williams, who if she
beats Simona Halep on Saturday will equal Margaret Court's Grand Slam singles
haul of 24, believes that technology has helped her continue to succeed even
afer taking time out to have a baby.
The American
superstar lost just three games to her 33-year-old semi-final opponent Barbora
Strycova in easing to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in less than an hour on Thursday.
"I think
technology has really changed," said Williams, who at 37 years of age and
291 days is the oldest Grand Slam finalist in the modern era.
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"That's the
only reason I'm able to compete.
"I feel like if
we had this technology 20 years ago, maybe Michael Jordan would still be
playing basketball.
"I just feel
like we know so much more about our bodies.
"Things I do
different now than when I first was on tour, it's lengthening my career."
Williams, whose
early part of the season was affected by a knee injury, said it was not just
her and Woods who were enjoying extended careers.
"It's not just
me, it's Roger (Federer, 37), Tom Brady (41-year-old New England Patriots
six-time Super Bowl winning quarterback), Peyton (Manning, NFL quarterback who
won two Super Bowls during his 18 year career) played forever.
"There are so
many athletes now that are able to do better and play longer, even play some of
their best way after 30s.
"Those
athletes, Tiger obviously, what he did at the Masters, was on top of my mind.
"Those athletes
are incredibly inspiring. That's one thing that keeps me moving forward."
- 'I'm far from perfect' -
Williams, watched by
her husband Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, said despite being proud of what
she was achieving at her age she stll hankered after her mentality when she was
younger.
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She revealed she had
recalled prior to her semi-final how she felt when she won her first Wimbledon
title beating elder sister Venus 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in 2002.
"I was trying
to tap into those emotions," said Williams.
"I was really
calm. I remember I think I hit an ace.
"I just
remember, like, how it's so, so different when you're younger as opposed to
now."
Williams, whose two
sets win took her to 200 career sets won at Wimbledon joint second with Chris
Evert in the all-time women's list behind Martina Navratilova (249), says that
she is in a better frame of mind than she was when she ended up losing in both
the Wimbledon and US Open finals last year.
"Yeah, I had to
get to those finals, looking back, to even be in those two finals last year was
unbelievable," she said.
"Now I'm in a
different place. Like I just am more calm.
"Instead of
having nothing to lose, I feel like I have things to lose, but I also have
nothing to lose.
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"It's like I'm
in the middle."
However, come
Saturday's final Williams said there was no guarantee it would be the young
calmer version walking out on to Centre Court but the one that was pumped up in
her three-set quarter-final victory over Alison Riske.
"I was calm
today," she said. "It's a day-today basis with me. We all know that.
"I'm far from
perfect."