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Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after winning a point during her Women’s Singles second round match against Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia on day three of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after winning a point during her Women’s Singles second round match against Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia on day three of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Former Slovak tennis star Daniela Hantuchova has backed Serena Williams to add to her 23 Grand Slam titles in the new season.
The American won her last Major title at the Australian Open in 2017, going past German legend Steffi Graf’s record of winning 22 Grand Slam trophies.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Serena Williams of the United States reacts to a lost point during her Women’s Singles quarterfinal match against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria on Day Ten of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Daniela Hantuchova says Serena Williams enters every tournament as a favorite
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However, she hasn’t had much success at the Majors ever since.
4 tournaments, 2 countries and 1 baby on the go. That can trigger my migraine attacks, so I carry @UBRELVY for anytime, anywhere.
Patient information: https://t.co/96OV2qfnfC. Don’t take with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Most common side effects were nausea & tiredness. #Sponsored pic.twitter.com/K4XmXmZ51Y
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) October 29, 2020
Serena made the semifinals of the US Open this year but lost to Belarussian Victoria Azarenka.
Hantuchova says there’s plenty more tennis in Serena
The fact she went trophy-less in her last four Grand Slam events isn’t lost on her and, according to Hantuchova, the 39-year-old still has it in her to script more Grand Slam glory.
Speaking on a podcast, Hantuchova said, “Whenever she enters a tournament, she has a chance.”
She said the Australian Open next year would be Serena’s best chance to clinch her 24th Grand Slam title.
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“I think the Australian Open could be the best one for her because she is away from some of the pressure she gets at Wimbledon and the US Open and she can concentrate on her tennis,” Hantuchova said.
Serena yet to take call on Australian Open participation
Serena, who skipped some events on the WTA calendar this year, citing the pandemic, still hasn’t confirmed participation for the Australian Open.
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“If there’s a good place for her to get this record, maybe it will be Down Under. Hopefully she can get there and we can find a way to play with this quarantine issue,” the former Slovak star said.
The American hasn’t yielded to all the chatter around her future in tennis and keeps up with a strenuous fitness routine to stay in shape for titles.
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Motherhood hasn’t taken anything away from her iron will and fierce competitive spirit, and despite her Grand Slam setbacks, she has refused to consider retirement.
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In what is a rarity for the American, Serena finished outside the Top-10 in the year-end WTA players’ rankings.
That in itself should be motivation enough for the American to bounce back the way the tennis world knows she can.
