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“Maybe It Will Be Down Under”: Daniela Hantuchova on Serena Williams’ 24th Slam Win at Australian Open 2021

Published 12/05/2020, 4:30 PM EST

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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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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.

Serena made the semifinals of the US Open this year but lost to Belarussian Victoria Azarenka.

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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. 

“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.

“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.

“Moments I Will Not Recover”: Serena Williams Details About Time Spent with Family During COVID-19 Break

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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.

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Written by:

Priyabrata Chowdhury

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Priyabrata Chowdhury is a tennis author for EssentiallySports. He has been a print journalist for a decade, producing news pages for leading national dailies such as the Hindustan Times and The New Indian Express. His passion for sports eventually drove him to tennis writing.
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