I've got to raise my game, says Serena

Jun 27 2010 by Chris Vaughan, Sunday Mercury

SERENA Williams ambled into the second week of Wimbledon with another assured straight-sets victory but the top seed claims she must raise her game if she is to retain her title.

Williams defeated Dominika Cibulkova 6-0 7-5 yesterday in a Centre Court clash which saw the three-time champion start brightly before an improved display by her opponent held up her charge.

The American has won the opening set of each of her three matches at Wimbledon this year by the same 6-0 scoreline, but was unable to maintain momentum as the match progressed.

By most players’ standards, Williams’ performances at SW19 thus far have been exceptional, with the 28-year-old yet to concede a set or even a break of serve.

But the 12-time grand slam winner concedes she is possessed of an “insatiable” quest for perfection, and is seeking an improvement ahead of her fourth-round encounter against Maria Sharapova, her conqueror in the 2004 Wimbledon final.

“I honestly don’t think I played that great in the second set,” said Williams.

“I think I played well in the first, but you can’t play one set and expect to win the tournament.

“I just kind of came off the gas a little too much. I just can’t do that in big grand slams like this.

“I’ve always been insatiable. I’ve always had a desire to be really good. If you become too satisfied, then I don’t know how you can reach that.

“I thought I was playing a little better last year, so hopefully I can pick it up.”

Williams was overlooked for the Centre Court schedule on the occasion of the Queen’s visit on Thursday - instead finding herself relegated to Court Two for her clash with Anna Chakvetadze.

But after being restored to the main show court yesterday, Williams began the match with a point to prove, hitting an ace on the first point and breaking Cibulkova’s serve at the first time of asking.

“Serving that well feels awesome,” she said. “I serve well at Wimbledon for some unknown reason. I want to keep doing it.”