Will Serena reach 18 Slams? More?

[Sundaymorningguy]

Well, I think she probably is going to aim for 3-4 next year from what it sounds like. In her most recent interviews, she has talked about she and Patrick shifting her focus to majors. I like that talk, but I also think that kind of shift is likely to cause the very thing that happened this year pressure. She won this summer because she came in with a let's see what happens attitude. However, the big thing Serena has to do is keep up with her fitness. At her age, she has to maintain her fitness to cut down the risk of injury.

 

[faradubii]

If she really wants the 22 or even 23 to be alone at the top, logic says she needs to get the next ones fast, but I really doubt she can get 3 or 4 in a year.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

In the last two or three years before retirement, Serena will play just majors and very
few other tournaments (and that too mainly as warm up to majors). She will not care for
rankings.

That is why, I gave her six more years time and the predicted sequence of 2,1,0,1,0,0.
Remember that she won AO when ranked 89 or something like that. She will play in
many slams with such low rankings at the fag end of her career.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think she is going to aim for 3-4, but I think realistically 2 seems right. I think she will pull one of the hard court slams and surprisingly I think she will bag another French Open. I think pressure will be big at Wimbledon because I think she has wanted it so much over the past couple of years that I think it will continue to elude her. I think when all is said and done her final slam win will either be Wimbledon or the US Open. I am hoping her final one comes at the US Open, the major that started it all for her.

 

[faradubii]

That would imply also tough draws. I know, right now she has no real threat, she can blast anyone off the court playing just 80%. But sadly age will get more and more a crucial factor for her. She needs fast some GSs, 2 and 2 maybe in 2015 and 2016, but really I'm afraid it's too late, look at Venus (I know with her you have to account for her illness, but still...)

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't think it is too late. She just won a slam at around 33 years old not losing a set and more than 3 games to anyone. I think 2015 she really does need to focus and try to bag at least 3 majors though if she is aiming to pass Graf. Serena and Venus are at two very different parts of their careers, so I don't think it is appropriate to include her in that discussion with Serena and her potential. Serena has always been the better player of the two sisters. I am curious as to what her schedule will look like next year since she said she is focusing on the majors and not so much the smaller tournaments. I actually think she just needs to keep playing the type of schedule she has played as I think the match play is what has kept her sharp for the most part at the majors.

 

[Si Si Simona]

I dont think its important how many slams Serena will get.
Serena reached during her career a higher level of play than any other women that ever played the game.
She combined technique with power better than anyone else including Navratilova.
I dont think top peak Navratilova could stand a chance against Serena's power when Serena is at her best.
Navratilova knows that and thats why she hates Serena
Serena is the best of all times for me. I dont care how many she wins.

 

[Moxie]

@Sunday I agree. 6 seems like a stretch. I don't think it's just her body and health holding up. I think Serena has a TON of interests outside tennis. I could definitely see Serena having a great career starting some kind of sports line like Venus or maybe an academy. Either way I think sometime in the next 2-4 seasons she will call it a day.

I think to reach Steffi's total she needs to win at least two next year.

All good points. I think Serena will stay in more than 2 years, as long as she's winning and healthy. She has the motivation of Steffi's record, and she could get it, but you're right...she has to win at least 2 next year.

 

[kskate2]

^ Are you saying she's going to play 6 more seasons?

Yes. If Kimiko can play at age 43, why can't Serena play till 39.

Besides, as we learnt in Wimbledon this year Serena does not know when to say
enough is enough and I am not getting on court anymore.

I too don't see 6 more seasons in her future. Four at the most, more likely it will be 3.

 

[tossip]

^ Are you saying she's going to play 6 more seasons?

Yes. If Kimiko can play at age 43, why can't Serena play till 39.

Besides, as we learnt in Wimbledon this year Serena does not know when to say
enough is enough and I am not getting on court anymore.

I too don't see 6 more seasons in her future. Four at the most, more likely it will be 3.

Serena s longevity has defied logic..who knows what she is going to do in the next few years..

 

[kskate2]

**BUMP**

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

If she can get at least two more this year, then it will make 2016 easier on her to try and get that record. I can see Wimbledon happening again this year now that she has seemingly found a good rhythm with her serve again. She has made the US Open her home for slams by at least making the finals 4 years in a row. I think the real question is does she have another French in her? She certainly has the game for it. If she can pull off another French this year, then her confidence will be really high going into the second half of the year where she usually shines anyway.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena winning the first grand slam of the year in Australia,has really set the tone for her I feel for the rest of the year.I feel she will really put emphasis on winning Wimbledon,I always feel she is the huge favorite at the US Open,to me Serena just has to stay healthy,Serena needs no motivation,she has her eyes on Steffi Graf's 22 Grand Slam singles.

 

[El Dude]

I'm wondering if Steffi is kind of wishing she hadn't retired so (relatively) early.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't think Steffi could help that feeling. Near the end of her career she looked weary and injuries started increasing. It is why Kim retired again and Justine as well because of injuries mounting. I think Serena having the periods of injuries, part-time schedule, apathy at times helped prolong her career to an extent.

 

[tented]

I don't think Steffi could help that feeling. Near the end of her career she looked weary and injuries started increasing. It is why Kim retired again and Justine as well because of injuries mounting. I think Serena having the periods of injuries, part-time schedule, apathy at times helped prolong her career to an extent.

Reminds me somewhat of Agassi, another player who kept going into his thirties, while several of his contemporaries retired earlier.

 

[Kirijax]

That lull in the mid-00s has definitely helped Serena I think. But like I said in another thread, I can't help but think that the end for Serena will come quickly. Losing to unknowns, losing in the early rounds, etc.

But this is Serena and she has proven me wrong many times.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think it gets a bit easier for Serena this year like she said she didn't expect the next one to come as quickly, so I think she can breathe a bit easier and relax going into the slams this year. I think the one that will take some work is the French if she wants it. Her focus is on Wimbledon which given the return of her serve will be a good bet.

I think she has to start taking better care of herself and her schedule. Winning a slam while sick is not an easy task, and it puts her at risk for overcompensating to try and win.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In regards to the question,'Do you think Graff kind of wished she hadn't retired so early'?

No.I think she knew it was the time for her to retire quite frankly,she was picking up more injuries towards the latter part of her career.

 

[Kirijax]

I heard that towards the end of Graf's career, she has having to stretch for two hours before her matches and then two hours after. She just had enough I think. And she closed it out with a FO title and a Wimbledon runner-up-finish. Very impressive.