SERENA Williams is a great winner but not a great loser, a fine competitor but a legendary whiner.
When she loses it is not because of what her opponent did, but often about what she didn't do.When she lost one year to Jill Craybas at Wimbledon, she moaned: "I think she just got balls back. She didn't do anything. She just pretty much had to show up."
We can shake our heads at her lack of grace, but we must admire her constant self-belief (of course, one could say that it's possible to have both). Still, it is this thirst for victory and unshakeable faith in her skills and spirit that makes Serena interesting.
This week, on the cusp of the Australian Open, she said it didn't matter that she wasn't No.1 in the world, she still considered herself the best in the world. This may sound arrogant on first reading, and perhaps a little uncharitable to Jelena Jankovic who is the No.1 (even if she doesn't own a slam), but Williams has a point.
American Serena Williams serves it up.
Souce: AP
If you look at her statement, she is merely articulating what most of the top players believe, but are courteous/politically correct (make your choice) enough not to say.
Refusing to admit Jankovic was the best player, Serena said: "I don't think anyone is better than me. I would feel crazy sitting here being a professional tennis player and saying that someone is better than me.
"Yeah, she's ranked higher than me. But I wouldn't care if I was a thousand in the world, I would still feel like I was the best. You know, that's just me trying to be positive with myself. Hopefully she (Jankovic) feels that way herself."
Returning a shot.
Source: AP
Sports psychologists would approve of this sort of mindset for it shows Williams as an assertive, confident player. It is an attitude, however, that doesn't always win friends but certainly it helps wins matches - often unlikely ones.
In 2007, for instance, she won the Australian Open even though she was No.81 in the world, was clearly overweight and had played only four tournaments in 2006.
Victory can never be guaranteed, but clearly this year she will do as she always does: Whether with shots or words, she will hog the headlines.