Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka: Friends, moms and tennis greats set for blockbuster US Open battleBefore analyzing the ins and outs of Serena Williams’ blockbuster semifinal tennis coach Sven Groeneveld was first CLECK HERE TO WATCH LIVE STREAM FREE and backhands.”We can’t ignore the fact that they are both young mothers and grand slam champions,” Groeneveld, one of tennis’ most respected coaches, told CNN Sport.

“Great respect for these two women that are at the pinnacle of our sport and are leading the way and set examples, because I do feel the new generation need these examples of strong women.”Why Serena Williams may still have the edge at the US Open.Why Serena Williams may still have the edge at the US Open.After three mothers landed in the quarterfinals at a grand slam for the first time in the Open Era — Tsvetana Pironkova was the other and gave Williams all she could handle Wednesday — two moms are meeting in a grand slam semifinal for the first time.

Both are attempting to land their maiden grand slam titles as mothers and end longer than anticipated droughts.Williams last triumphed at the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant with daughter Olympia, and this is the ninth grand slam where the 38-year-old is attempting to tie Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 majors.

When Azarenka won the 2013 Australian Open, no one would have predicted that come 2020 the Belarussian would be limited to two majors. Such is her ability.The 31-year-old is a former world No. 1 who has tested Williams like few others have done before, even leading the 2012 US Open final 5-3 in the third set prior to witnessing her friend pull off yet another grand slam comeback. However, Williams is 11-0 versus Azarenka in grand slams and Olympics and holds an 18-4 record overall.

Azarenka has had to endure a custody battle revolving around her son, Leo, and has thought in the past about retiring.Before winning the warmup Western & Southern Open last month, Azarenka hadn’t won a single match since August 2019.Novak Djokovic’s default opens the door for young stars to win a grand slam, but will success come with an asterisk?
Novak Djokovic’s default opens the door for young stars to win a grand slam, but will success come with an asterisk?

Yet both Williams and Azarenka have said at this US Open that they’re being less hard on themselves than before.”COVID has been a terrible thing, but for me it got me to pause and really overview a lot of things for myself,” Azarenka told reporters.”And I knew if I had to do this last comeback, I have to do things differently. I can’t keep trying going into that same circle every time, ‘Oh, you were like this in 2012, 2013.’ No, I don’t even remember how it was.”

Said Williams: “I just think with the pressure and everything that I felt, like I just needed to be perfect. I always feel like I’m not perfect unless I’m perfect. That’s not a fun way to live your career and live your life.”So it doesn’t matter if I lose 20 points in a row now. I just feel like, it’s okay, it’s fine, I’m here, and I’m happy. I get to play tennis after all these years.”Comeback wins And Williams is still competing the best she ever has.

Shares: