With a career spanning 24 years, Serena Williams has seen it all in tennis. The 38-year-old turned professional in 1995. In 1999, she shot to stardom after she won the US Open. Serena defeated the world number one at the time, Martina Hingis, to win her first Grand Slam title at age 17. After achieving success at such a young age, Serena is now happy to see that other young American tennis players are having an impact on the game.
Team USA qualifies for the Fed Cup Finals
The 23-time Grand Slam champion teamed up with some of the game’s youngest superstars during Team USA’s Fed Cup qualifier tie with Latvia. The world No.9 played two singles matches during the qualifier, defeating Jelena Ostapenko but losing to Anastasija Sevastova. Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands won their doubles match to ensure that Team USA qualified for the Fed Cup Finals in Budapest, Hungary later this year. Kenin won her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open. The 21-year-old was the highest-ranked member of Team USA during their qualifier with Latvia.
I am excited to play among the future of tennis
Apart from Kenin, Coco Gauff was the other young superstar on Team USA. The 15-year-old had a good run at the Australian Open. She defeated Venus Williams in the opening round before recording an upset victory over Naomi Osaka. Kenin ended the teenager’s run on her way to the title. Gauff is already a WTA champion after winning the Linz Open last season. Another young and promising American tennis player is Amanda Anisimova. The 18-year-old won the Colombia Open last season. With so many young American players enjoying success, Serena has expressed her excitement at mentoring and playing with them. During a recent interview, the 23-time Grand Slam champion expressed her delight at her veteran role during the Fed Cup. “I’m always so excited to see young American players do well. It’s always super exciting to play in the future of tennis.”
Serena serves as a role model for many young tennis players. However, unlike the men’s side where the “Big Three” of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal are still dominant, some young female players have already won Grand Slam titles. In 2018, Naomi Osaka defeated Serena to win the US Open. Last season, Bianca Andreescu defeated Serena at the same tournament to win her first major title.
Serena Williams’s ranking and performance in 2020
Ranked no.9, the American played her last match on the 8th of February when she capitulated to Anastasija Sevastova 7-65 3-6 7-64 in the Rubber 4 in the Fed Cup.
Currently, this season the American has a 8-2 win-loss record. Serena Williams clinched 1 title in Auckland.
Cori Gauff’s ranking and performance in 2020
Now ranked no.51 (career-high), the American played her last match on the 26th of January when she lost to Sofia Kenin 6-75 6-3 6-0 in the 4th round of the Australian Open.
Serena Williams and Cori Gauff have never played each other.
Sofia Kenin’s ranking and performance in 2020
Now ranked no.7 (career-high), Kenin played her last match on the 8th of February when she lost to Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 2-6 6-2 in the Rubber 3 in the Fed Cup.
This year Kenin has a 10-3 win-loss record. Sofia has won 1 title at the Australian Open.
Amanda Anisimova’s ranking and performance in 2020
Currently the world no.29, the American played her last match on the 21st of January when she capitulated to Zarina Diyas 6-3 4-6 6-3 in the 1st round of the Australian Open.
Amanda Anisimova’s best result of this year was getting to the semi-finals in Auckland.
Sofia Kenin and Amanda Anisimova have never played each other.
The last time that they locked horns, Sofia Kenin won 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round in Tyler (Tyler) in November 2017.