Serena Williams: 'Now I can play my shots, not think about pain anymore'

• Tennis News
• Serena Williams

Serena Williams defeated Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2 6-2 to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. In a press conference, the American, who dealt with several injuries this year, said: "The is rust definitely wearing off. Most of all I feel confident that I can actually move and I don't have to go for winners so soon because I'm in pain.

It's like, 'Oh, now I can just play my game, hit shots, not have to worry about anything else.' It's good when your mind is clear and you can just play. I definitely feel like I'm getting better and better day by day. But, you know, every match is still super hard.

Like even today I won a lot of points. It wasn't like your average 6-2, 6-2 score. There weren't too many 40-Love games at all, actually. I think everyone is also getting better. As the tournament goes on, that's when the better players are surviving.

It's just good that I'm not in pain. Doing three hours of treatment after every practice, every match, just to be able to have 50% of pain. That was tough. Now I'm just feeling so much better. I literally can't even tell you how much better I feel.

That's a relief. That's a victory in itself, to know that I'm feeling better no matter what. I'm on the right path. I finally found the solution. I can be strong for the rest of the year."