Serena Williams is currently in Paris where she will try to win her elusive 24th slam title. However, things do not look that great for the American champion. Serena just turned 39 and she lost in the US Open semifinal to Vika Azarenka as she was also struggling with her Achilles. Soon after the US Open slam, the former world no.1 headed to the south of France to train at the Academy of her coach Patrick Mouratolgou where she admitted she was basically trying to recover.

During the press conference that anticipated the Roland Garros, Serena looked quite dejected saying that she is no perfect from a physical point of view and she wasn’t thrilled for not playing any warm-up tournament on clay before the French Open.

Serena talks about recovering

“I didn’t play any tune-ups, which is really rare. But this whole year has been really rare. After New York I flew to France and I’ve just been training at Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy, mostly rehabbing, trying to be ready.

I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t think I could perform. I’m not at 100% physically. But I don’t know any athlete that ever plays physically when they’re feeling perfect. That’s just something I think as athletes we have to play with,” she said.

Serena talks about turning 39

The American icon stressed the fact that she was quite surprised by the fact that she is still playing at 39 years of age.

“I honestly never thought I would be playing at my age. I mean, I don’t quite look 39. But yeah I don’t know when it’s going to stop for me. I just have fun. When I feel it’s over, it’s over,. But I could have guaranteed and pretty much bet my life that I would not have been playing at 39,” she commented.

The 1st round vs. Kristie Ahn

Serena will face Kristie Ahn in the 1st round of the French Open. Curiously, they played only once and that was in the 1st round of the recent US Open when Serena won 7-5 6-3 on the 1st of September 2020.

Here the highlights.

 

Serena Williams in 2020

At the moment ranked no.9, Serena played her last match on the 10th of September when she lost to Victoria Azarenka 1-6 6-3 6-3 in the semifinal of the U.S. Open.

This year Serena Williams has a 16-5 win-loss record. Serena Williams conquered 1 title in Auckland.

Kristie Ahn in 2020

Ranked no.102, Ahn played her last match on the 1st of September when she lost to Serena Williams 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round of the U.S. Open.