Connect with us

Sports

Is Serena Williams Playing Italian Open 2021?

Serena Williams last played at the Australian Open 2021. After that, she suffered an oral problem that forced her to miss the Miami Open 2021. While many players are already playing tournaments on clay, Serena is yet to kick off her clay-court campaign this year. There are doubts about whether she’ll be able to play at the Italian Open 2021 or not.

But in some good news for fans, Serena Williams will play at the Rome Masters 2021. It’ll also be the tournament where she’ll begin her clay-court season. She looks fit and fine right now and is training hard at the Mouratoglou Academy in Nice, France, for future tournaments on clay.

Interestingly, she is the 8th seeded player there and will face Naomi Osaka in the quarters.

Serena Williams
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 16, 2021, Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her quarterfinal match against Romania’s Simona Halep REUTERS/Loren Elliott

Williams missed the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome last year due to her Achilles injury. Unfortunately, she couldn’t even play at French Open last year and withdrew in the middle of the Grand Slam.

However, her health and physique look good this year and she might go on to win the title as well. Her aim will be to play well in Rome and then go to Paris in search of her 24th Grand Slam title at the French Open– a major that she hasn’t won in the last six years.

Serena Williams’ record at the Italian Open

Tennis queen Serena Williams has won the Italian Open title four times in her career so far. She is second on the list of the WTA players with the most titles in Rome- right behind Chris Evert Llyod, who won it on five occasions. She is also tied with arch-rival Maria Sharapova who has also won the title four times.

Gail Falkenburg/Serena Williams
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 18, 2021, Serena Williams of the U.S. in action during her semi-final match against Japan’s Naomi Osaka REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Serena first won the Italian Open title in 2002. Back then, she thrashed Justine Henin in straight sets in the finals to clinch her maiden title. However, she had to wait for a long time before winning it for the second time.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion next won it after 11 years- in 2013 by defeating Victoria Azarenka in the finals. She successfully defended her title by crushing Sara Errani in the following year.

Serena last won the title in 2016 after defeating fellow counterpart Madison Keys in the finals. She’ll be thirsty for yet another title this time too, and fans also have high expectations from her. Will Serena be able to conquer Rome yet again?

Also Read: Italian Open 2021 Draw: Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka on Collision Course, Barty Yet Again to Face Sabalenka

The post Is Serena Williams Playing Italian Open 2021? appeared first on EssentiallySports.