For the first time in a long time there is actually more than a modicum of interest in the women’s side of a Grand Slam tournament. And, of course, it’s all strictly due to a party of one: Serena Williams.
Not only is she being seriously mentioned now as potentially one of the greatest players ever, but more to the immediate point, after the way she whipped through Wimbledon and the Olympics, there is the sense right now that Serena is better than all her competitors by a margin we haven’t seen in almost a century — since Suzanne Lenglen was such a dominant marvel that her popularity forced Wimbledon to move to a huge new grounds.
But, of course, it isn’t just that Venus’ kid sister is rampant upon the court now, with the most powerful serve ever seen in the women’s game. Serena is also always, well, compelling. I don’t think we should call her a “soap opera” anymore since soap operas are disappearing, but certainly she is, in 21st century terms, a credible one-woman reality show.
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