Serena Williams is tough! Battles to advance @ the French Open.

 

Serena Williams battled past Victoria Azarenka in a heated third-round contest at the French Open.Since her first match at this tournament, Williams, 33 years old, has looked hurried. Her serve hasn’t been quite right after an elbow injury that forced her to withdraw from a tournament in Rome earlier this month. Her footwork has been shaky. Her approach has lacked confidence. On Saturday, it looked as if she would run out of time. Williams bemoaned her misses and berated herself as Azarenka built a 6-3, 4-2 lead. After Williams held her serve to close the gap to 4-3, she sat in her chair and dried her eyes with a towel.And then, presto, Williams loosened up. She won the set, fell behind 2-0 in the third set and then rattled off the next six games. 

The world number one came through 3-6 6-4 6-2 in two hours and three minutes to reach round four.

Tempers frayed at the end of the second set, with Azarenka waving away Williams's explanation over a disputed line call.

"I was really down and out and I just really zeroed in," said Williams. "I focused and really wanted to win that."

Asked about her argument with Azarenka, the American added: "We talked about this a long time ago.

"We said, 'we're going to leave everything on the court, we're going to give 500% and when we're off the court, we'll be really cool'.

"I love that relationship, because she's a really fun girl. It's not often that you can have that with someone. So it's cool."

“My honest opinion, that call was bull— and everybody knows it,” Azarenka said.

Williams will continue her bid to win a third French Open and 20th Grand Slam title against compatriot Sloane Stephens in the last 16.

The 33-year-old is trying to win a third French Open and 20th Grand Slam title.
 

Victoria Azarenka has never gone further than the semi-finals at Roland Garros

I think her secret weapon is not just her physical strength but her mental prowess...








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