On a Mission

Serena Williams began the year ranked at 95 in the world. Currently, she sits at No. 5. Thanks to a strong first quarter when she captured the two biggest tournaments in tennis to date, the Australian Open and the Sony Ericsson Open, she launched a comeback that seemed to prove she was destined to reclaim her seat atop women's tennis.

But a groin injury halted her momentum. She only played one event before Roland Garros where she lost to eventual champion Justine Henin in two sets of uninspired tennis. This after playing relatively well through four rounds. I couldn't help but wonder if 2003 was still on her mind, despite her proclamations that it was all in the past.

Wimbledon used to be Serena's garden, and it appeared as though she was ready to prevail once more on the lawns of tennis most genteel event. But a calf spasm and a thumb injury reared their ugly heads in he fourth round and once again in the next, she fell to archrival Henin, this time in three sets. On one leg with one hand tied behind her back.

She withdrew from every summer hardcourt event she'd entered apparently to let her thumb heal. But in her opening match at the US Open, it was painfully clear she also suffered from a right leg injury. I couldn't tell for sure if it was her thigh or her knee, but as the tournament played out, it looked to be her knee. For the third time, she lost to Henin, this time after holding a set point on Justine's serve in the first set that a timid second-serve return into the net wiped away.

Justine went on to take out Venus Williams in the semifinals and that paragon of mental virility Svetlana Kuznetsova in the finals and the world was talking of Jusine as the WTA's answer to Roger Federer.

Whatever.

Fast forward two months. Serena now has a chance to show that she can still beat Justine when healthy and prepared, take the lead in their career head-to-head, and if everything falls right, even up their 2007 record at 3 wins apiece. And most importantly, perhaps, finish the year at No. 4, thereby avoiding another random quarterfinal matchup with Justine in Melbourne.

"I was happy to see that I was in her half, because I feel like it would be fun to play her again and she's the No. 1 player, so it'd be cool," Serena said after drawing Justine as one of the four players in the yellow group along with Jelena Jankovic and Anna Chakvetadze.

"Everyone out on that list hits pretty hard, guess I have to hold it down for USA."

"I'm definitely really fit and really happy. I was on my way to glory and I ran into a little bad luck." She more than likely means her injuries, not Justine's shots, so calm down. Can't say I ever remember Serena talk about how happy she was.

"I am determined to make good at the end of the year."

If her tennis in Madrid matches her determination, and she can run, the rest of the field better get ready to be terrorized by a woman who will not be denied.

Order of Play, Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo

18.00hrs
(1) Justine Henin vs. (7) Anna Chakvetadze

NB 20.00hrs
(6) Maria Sharapova vs. (8) Daniela Hantuchova
(2) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. (4) Ana Ivanovic