Google News Alex Corretja speaks on Serena Williams' emotional Australian Open exit
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 103585
Former world No. 2 Alex Corretja thought the moment was "hard" for Serena Williams following her exit at this year's Australian Open. Williams, who was chasing a 24th Grand Slam to equal Margaret Court's all-time Major record, lost to Naomi Osaka in the semifinal.
After the loss, Williams was asked if she would ever again return to Melbourne Park. Williams gave the crowd an emotional goodbye and later got emotional in her press conference. “That moment was hard for her,” Corretja told Eurosport.
“She surely thought that if she has not achieved it, it is because she can no longer do it. “Hopefully it is not so, and she has some more opportunities to finish her career in a big way. And I think that for her to win one more Grand Slam, she has to give everything and she has to think that she, Serena Williams, is a special woman, a super woman”.
Williams out of the Australian Open
Williams, who hasn't played since Wimbledon due to a hamstring injury, announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open. Former world No. 1 Justine Henin thinks Wimbledon is Williams' best shot at ever again winning a Grand Slam.
“But I think where she has the most options is at Wimbledon, but she needs to compete earlier, because she can't come without competing for a long time and try to win, that would be very difficult," Henin explained.
"I think Serena has been making such a big effort for so long in every way, after being a mother, after injuries… she has had opportunities that she has not been able to take advantage of, and every time she tries to win another Grand Slam, she probably feels like the effort she has to make to win a Grand Slam is huge.
“I am still surprised that she still feels like doing it knowing that she has been fighting for a long time and it is difficult sometimes to find the energy”.