Ten years ago, Kimiko Date-Krumm returned to competitive tennis at the tender age of 38 and she was able to reach the 1R of the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Passing the age of 40, she was able to reach as deep as the 3R in the slams.
This year, at the tender age of 37, Serena Williams is aiming to win her 24th grand slam title as she gets into the finals of Wimbledon.
How times have changed!
If a player just takes care of her body and hires a team that can do it for her - then a female tennis player can have a long career - marriage and kids and all!
I feel this is an important victory for Serena Williams because it will give hope to Mommy athletes of all sports to not give up and continue to compete.
It has been done in track and field where Mommies have won gold after giving birth.
I guess tennis, is the next frontier.
Her opponent, Simona Halep, is no spring chicken either, and at 27, is reaching a mental maturity and quiet confidence that I've never seen before.
Halep has not been much of a factor on grass till this year. I am very surprised that she reached the final - and if she wins - she may be doing something right in her approach to the game.
It's going to be a suspenseful game because while Serena is very aggressive, Simona, like many of the great counter punchers before her - Jelena Jankovic, Kim Clijsters - can chase the ball and make Serena work for one more point - and movement is always an issue with Serena.
Either way, their victories will be a good way for Wimbledon 2019 darling Coco Gauff to reflect on her path to tennis greatness.
Would she want immediate wins that may cause her career to be shortened - or have a long illustrious career like Serena - with a billionaire husband and a beautiful baby girl.
Who says women can't have it all?
No comments:
Post a Comment