“Tougher as You Get a Little Bit Older”: Former Tennis Player Details 40-Year-Old Serena Williams’ Challenges and Goals

After Swiss maestro Roger Federer, tennis queen Serena Williams also recently joined the 40-year-old club. On the occasion, she received birthday wishes from all around the world. In addition to that, many fans also expressed the desire to see her on court soon. But what does Serena’s next year plan look like, tennis-wise?

Earlier, the 23-time Grand Slam champion got injured during the Wimbledon Championships’ opening round match. Since then, she hasn’t returned to the court, missing the US Open as well. Accordingly, the former American tennis star Chanda Rubin has opened up on the priorities for Serena Williams. 

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What does 40-year-old Serena Williams need to do to get back on the court?

For most professional athletes, 40 is the number when the alarm bells start to ring in sports. Besides, tennis is a physically demanding sport, which makes competing in it harder with advancing age. That is what Rubin considers Serena’s biggest priority.

“First and foremost, she’s got to get healthy, and that has become more of the challenge,” the former World No.6 said on the Tennis Channel episode. Afterward, Rubin explained that even though Serena has made several comebacks from injuries, getting tournament-ready would not be easy.

“It’s one thing that we’ve seen over and over with Serena throughout her career, how durable she’s been through injuries, coming back,” Rubin added. “Being able to play herself into shape in a tournament, that becomes tougher as you get a little bit older.”

Consequently, the fellow American hopes Serena will get healthy and return at the start of 2022. Rubin added that “if not then, she would be looking towards the summer and working her way towards Wimbledon. That’s where she could not finish this year. That’s so important.”

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What is Serena’s biggest goal in tennis?

Above all, Serena is chasing Australian legend Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam titles record. Currently, she has 23 and is one major title away from equalling the record.

Earlier this year, Serena even admitted that the record is the only reason keeping her on the WTA Tour. However, since her last Grand Slam win in 2017, she has reached four Slam finals, unable to get through on each occasion.

Hence, 100% fitness and recovery will indeed be Serena’s biggest priorities. More than that, it will rely on her will to take on the long-awaited 24th Grand Slam title.

Do you think Serena can win a Slam next year?

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