Serena Williams ‘could return to number one’ suggests famous mentor
Serena Williams could make a comeback to the very top of the women’s game if she put everything into it says her former coach Rick Macci.
Serena has not won a Slam since 2017, but after a year out prior to Wimbledon the 23-time Major champion has decided to continue her comeback with the North American hard court swing and likely the US Open.
Despite the legend now being nearly 41 years old, Macci believes she still has it in her to win more Slams.
“If she wants to do it, she has to fully commit and get in amazing shape,” Macci said according to Tennis-Infinity.com. “You don’t lose the talent, you just lose the fitness. Then you get the confidence back once you start playing matches. She just has to dive in get used to winning and losing.
“She’s probably the best competitor maybe in any women’s sport we’ve ever seen. Serena is like a pitbull. When she gets a hold of you she doesn’t let go. She’s a brutal competitor and she has that serve.
“Serena can hit fifteen aces a match still. If she wants to do this and really go after it, I have no doubt that she can do it because you never underestimate a heart of a champion.”
Incredibly, Serena won her first Slam nearly 23 years ago at the 1999 US Open, aged 17.
This summer, the former world number one is on the entry list for the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Toronto in August, signalling her intent to compete at her home Slam for a 21st time.
Macci added: “I know Serena has other priorities in her life, she’s a mother now. But if she wants to do this, 100%, she can come back. And I think she could not only win a Grand Slam, she could be number one if she wanted to but that’s a question only she can answer.”
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