French Open 2021: Serena Williams marches into the Fourth Round, defeats friend and countrywoman Danielle Collins


French Open 2021: Serena Williams marches into the Fourth Round, defeats friend and countrywoman Danielle Collins

Serena Williams

23-time grand slam Champion, Serena Williams enters the third round of the French Open for the 16th time after her straight sets victory over countrywoman Danielle Collins on Court Philippe Chatrier. The American veteran won the match in 85 minutes with a scoreline of 6-4,6-4.

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Althought the scoreline suggests a straight sets victory for Williams, the match was much tighter. Collins was right on the money from word go and didn’t give any chance to Williams. Serena too served pretty well, winning 80% points on the first serve. Both held serve consistently until Williams broke Collins in the 7th game and cruised to a decisive 5-3 lead. She eventually served for the set and won it 6-4.

The second set had a completely different story. Both the players were aggressive on return and couldn’t hold serve. Williams broke in the very first game of the set only to get broken herself in the very next game by Collins.

The World No.50 again broke Williams and cruised to a 4-1 lead. But Williams staged a feisty comeback and broke her twice to take 5 games in a row and the set 6-4.

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Serena Williams reveals how she keeps her daughter entertained in quarantine

Serena Williams
Serena Williams

In the post match on-court interview with former Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli, Serena Williams was asked a lot of fun questions one being how does she keep her daughter ‘Olympia’ entertained in quarantine. Serena is travelling with her daughter and her husband to Paris and the family has been in quarantine due to COVID-19 protocols.

Serena said: “I enjoy my time on court because its a lot to entertain a 3 year old. It takes a lot of energy but they are doing a great job. There’s a little play room for her here so she goes there and yes, we play a tonne of Leggo there.”

Bartoli then shared an interesting stat with everyone. Serena Williams is the only player in the history of the sport to have won all the grand slams in singles and doubles and the Olympics. Williams spoke about inspiring a generation of players with her heroics on court.

She said: “I don’t think about it too much because I am still playing but I would like to hopefully be an inspiration and its fun. I enjoy my time here playing in this crowd and want to continue doing that.”

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Williams is bidding to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam triumphs, but has not made it past the fourth round at Roland Garros since 2016. She will take on Elena Rybakina next on Sunday.

Also read: French Open 2021: Daniil Medvedev defeats the ‘American Giant’ Reilly Opelka to enter the Round of 16 for the first time