ROLAND GARROS, Paris

Women’s Final:  [CR1] Serena Williams (USA) vs. [CR13] Lucie Safarova (CZE)

Williams was focused and determined to win her 20th Major Championship. For the first half of the match Safarova had no impact on Williams’ game and then suddenly, Williams stumbled. Up two breaks in the second and serving to go up 5-1, the enormity of what she was about to accomplish registered and Williams faltered-overwhelmed by a bout of nerves. Credit to Safarova who fought her nerves and never stopped fighting her resilient opponent.  She pushed Williams and almost, almost did the impossible, beat Williams in the final of a major.

Yet, Williams always has to have some drama in her matches and there were no doubts that she would find her footing.  Williams has the amazing ability to forget a recent sloppy period of play and today was no exception. She regrouped and quickly squashed any ideas Safarova had that she could upset Williams’ plans to win the title. Williams proved once again why she is so difficult to defeat in major finals and won 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2 despite her illness and brief period of panic. Williams keeps her dreams alive of winning her first calendar year Grand Slam.