Serena Williams' retired opponents cheer her on from sidelines
NEW YORK — Now watching from the sidelines, Serena Williams’ retired contemporaries are as fascinated by her continuing dominance as everyone else. But unlike the rest of us, they know from experience what she does well and see clearly what she now does even better.
They’ve moved on to other things, but they have a lot to say about Williams, who can become the first player to complete the calendar year Grand Slam since 1988 with a win in the U.S. Open final on Sept. 12. Williams plays Madison Keys in the fourth round Sunday.
“For me she’s like a hero,” says former No. 1 Dinara Safina. “She’s the best player on tour, and she proved it day by day and year by year.”
Safina, 29, officially retired in 2014 after not playing for three years due to a back injury. But she’s now again involved with the sport she desperately missed, working with the Russian Tennis Federation as an adviser to four Russian juniors. She is here at the U.S. Open working with them.
Safina, who’s nearly five years younger than Williams, says she’s surprised, pleasantly so, that Williams is still playing and at this level. “Because of the motivation,” Safina says. “Sometimes when you win so much and reach all your goals, you can lose the motivation.”
Former player Alina Jidkova, who was 1-1 against Williams during her career, says it’s incredible that Williams is still on top.
Like Safina, she believes Williams has managed to prolong her career by avoiding career-ending injuries. Adds Jidkova, with a quick laugh, “If she has no babies in the works or any marriages, why not? She’s No. 1 in the world — why not continue playing? I would continue if I [were] No. 1.”
Jidkova, 38, retired in 2010 and went on to coach for a few years. Today she spends most of her time caring for her 20-month-old son and consults with young players.
Retired French player Tatiana Golovin, 27, is also full of respect for Williams. “It’s impressive she was able to go through all these generations. ... It was always super difficult and even super scary to play her. And it seems like she’s even better now than she was before.”
In 2008 lower back inflammation forced Golovin to retire, and she soon became a tennis commentator. She’s taking time off after giving birth to a baby girl in July. Golovin will return to work in October for the Shanghai Masters. “I’m actually looking forward to going back and having a social life again,” she says.
When Golovin and others describe areas where Williams has improved, they mention consistency, variety, fitness, movement and motivation.
“She’s unbeatable,” marvels Safina. “Every year she loses less and less. She’s like wine — she’s getting better with each year.”
Former Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli, 30, who retired in 2013, raves about Williams as well. These days Bartoli stays busy with a jewelry line she launched earlier this year and also does EuroSport tennis commentary. Currently at the U.S. Open, Bartoli is based in Dubai but travels often to India and England for her jewelry.
“I think she has been so smart in hiring Patrick Mouratoglou as a coach, because he got her some extra shots,” Bartoli says. She says he’s helped Williams become a more complete player and that this key improvement helped Williams win Roland Garros this year when she was “definitely not at her best.”
Is there anything Williams, who turns 34 next month, hasn’t gotten better at as she’s aged?
“She’s very emotional on the court, and sometimes it helps but sometimes it does hurt her,” Golovin says. “Sharapova, maybe her tennis isn’t as impressive but mentally she just never has a day off, while Serena has a little bit more of that or she shows it more.
“It’s also impressive to see such a big champion with so much experience also can be so human at the same time, so sensitive on the court,” Golovin says.
Watching Williams reach new heights evokes admiration, but they’re not plotting comebacks.
Elena Dementieva, 33, says motherhood keeps her busy after having a baby girl a year ago. After retiring in 2010, Dementieva, who boasted a 5-7 head-to-head record against Williams, married Russian hockey player Maxim Afinogenov. She also graduated from college after studying journalism and worked in Russian sports television.
Dementieva is one of Serena’s former opponents who say she can win the calendar Grand Slam.
“Without question Serena can win the Grand Slam,” Dementieva says. “But even if it does not happen ... she’s still the best of all time for me.”