Serena Williams Brings out the Best in her Opponents

23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams truly believes that to beat the best one must play their best. At times, the situation?even calls for one to be better than their best.

Williams is not wrong when she says players consistently elevate their games when they stand across the net from greatness.

“Every single match I play, whether I’m coming back from a baby or surgery, it doesn’t matter, these young ladies, they bring a game that I’ve never seen before,” Serena said. The American played her best match of the tournament so far to fend off a challenge from Kristina Mladenovic.

She won 7-5, 7-6(3) to advance to the Round of 16 and extend her winning streak at the All England Club to 17 consecutive matches. “It’s interesting because I don’t even scout as much because when I watch them play, it’s a totally different game than when they play me.?

“That’s what makes me great: I always play everyone at their greatest, so I have to be greater.”

Mladenovic made Serena sweat early, playing near-flawless tennis to serve out the first set at 5-4. The French player was playing the best set of tennis she’s played all season. She played nine games without hitting a single unforced error. ‘Kiki’ even struck more winners than the 7-time Wimbledon champion.

At that moment Serena did what she does best: she elevated her game.

“I mean, it just gives even more props to her, honestly,”?said Madison Keys on Williams. “It’s definitely been a challenge that I have had to deal with where all of a sudden I’m the one that’s supposed to win and people are playing with nothing to lose and playing their best tennis.

“A lot of times you just have to weather the storm and play better on those big points, and the fact she’s basically done that her whole career is really impressive.”

Keys admitted that she let the prospect of playing Serena in the Round of 16 distract her in her third round match to Evgeniya Rodina.