- Title: Serena happy with Wimbledon seeding as she seeks to regain her crown
- Date: 1st July 2018
- Summary: LONDON, UK (JUNE 30, 2018) (REUTERS) SERENA WILLIAMS PRACTISING (2 SHOTS) LONDON, UK (JULY 1, 2018) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SERENA WILLIAMS, SAYING: "You know, I came in here expecting that I wouldn't get a seed. I do know that Wimbledon tends to kind of beat to their own drum, you know that's one thing that kind of sets them apart, So, it was a little bit in the back of my mind that I would have a chance, but I didn't put that on it, I was just here to do the best that I can do. I thought it was very, very noble and honest and cool - maybe not honest, but cool - I don't know where honest came from!" LONDON, UK (JUNE 30, 2018) (REUTERS) SERENA WILLIAMS PRACTISING LONDON, UK (JULY 1, 2018) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SERENA WILLIAMS, SAYING: "Yes, you know I did take her to Centre Court early on this week when I was here, and I don't know, I got a little emotional when I was telling her a story about a girl who had a big dream and then I started getting choked up - it was on my Instagram live story and, you know, it was just that I never felt that before - I was just taking all that moment and having the opportunity to share it with my daughter and my future was pretty more than I expected, suddenly get emotional. So that was really nice and we'll always have that, always have that memory, always have that footage of her. I've been to the other grand slams but I never actually brought her on site, this was the first one, so obviously, it was really special for me and I want it to be special for her too." LONDON, UK (JUNE 30, 2018) (REUTERS) SERENA WILLIAMS PRACTISING LONDON, UK (JULY 1, 2018) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SERENA WILLIAMS SAYING: "You know, my competitive desire is still the same. I don't know if you saw 'Being Serena' on HBO, it was hilarious, I was in the hospital and I said something about Olympia playing, and I was 'not if I'm still playing, I'm going to win!' and it was totally ridiculous, I was still on medication, but I don't think I ever actually lost the competitive side, in fact I feel that it's stronger as I've been through so much. I've put so much on the back burner, I feel like even more so, I'm even more competitive." LONDON, UK (JUNE 30, 2018) (REUTERS) TENNIS BALLS ON A RACQUET SERENA WILLIAMS PRACTISING
- Embargoed: 15th July 2018 13:33
- Keywords: Serena Williams Wimbledon Tennis
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Sport,Tennis
- Reuters ID: LVA0018MX0VGF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Garbine Muguruza is the reigning Wimbledon champion but all eyes will be on Serena Williams next week when the American begins her mission to snatch back the title she believes she owns.
The 36-year-old Williams has not lost on the London lawns since she was upset by France's Alize Cornet in 2014, winning the 2015 and 2016 titles to swell her Wimbledon tally to seven, two behind professional era leader Martina Navratilova.
She watched on from afar last year as she prepared to give birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September.
While she admits her return to competitive action has not been easy, she has been practising hard on the grass and few would bet against her becoming the first mother to win the title since Evonne Cawley 38 years ago.
Should she achieve that feat she would equal Margaret Court's record of 23 Grand Slam titles, although not all of Australian Court's were claimed during the professional era.
Williams has played only seven matches since returning to the Tour but there were signs at the French Open, where she was not seeded but reached the fourth round before withdrawing with a pectoral injury, that she was moving in the right direction.
Her Wimbledon hopes have been boosted by the seeding committee who installed her as the 25th seed in Friday's draw which paired her with lowly-ranked Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus.
Not everyone has supported the decision to seed her despite a ranking of 183 but she will still face a tough path with Ukraine's fifth seed Elina Svitolina looming in round three. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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