Western & Southern Open, Cincinnati

It’s not just the player across the net that [CR1] Serena Williams (USA) battles each time she steps on court, no disrespect to the other player, it is her self-imposed perfectionist demands that make her matches so unpredictable.

Serving for the match at 5-1, Serena was broken at love.  She did not even attempt to play the last ground stroke from the Italian, watching the ball go by for a winner.  She could not move because she was distracted by the internal dialogue taking place about her previous unforced errors. She literally becomes paralyzed in thought and this affliction manifests itself in her absent footwork.

Serena admits to being a perfectionist, at some point she may just want to truly relax and enjoy the talents she is blessed with.

In the end she defeated [CR14] Flavia Pennetta (ITA), 6-2, 6-2.