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It's hard to win Grand Slams, even for Serena Williams.
Despite already having 15 majors stowed safely in her racquet bag, it doesn't get any easier. And while the average age of the players in the top 100 has risen in recent years, Williams believes there is still room for teenage champions to break through.
"I think it will happen again, probably soon maybe," said Williams.
"I think if the person is strong enough, tall enough, or short, you know, but if they're strong enough physically and mentally, I think it's completely possible.
"I think the game is definitely physical. But I also think that there are some players, like Madison Keys is like 6' 2", and she's very strong and she's only 17. She has several years while she's still a teenager to win a Grand Slam."
Now in her 18th year on the tour, Williams is one of the favourites to hoist the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy for the sixth time. But this year Williams may just have to find a way to overcome a new opponent – herself.
In her first match versus Edina Gallovits-Hall she rolled an ankle. Today it was a self-inflicted whack to the face that had Williams checking to make sure her teeth were all present and still in good working order.
"I just busted it, busted it wide open. That's so inappropriate," she laughed.
"I think it happens to everyone, but I have never busted it wide open like that.
"I was like, ‘Oh, no. I can't have a tooth fall out. That would be horrible.’ I don't know why my racquet was even in my face. I mean, it's like I have been playing tennis far too long to hit myself.
"I'm like, ‘come on. Like, Serena, pull yourself together here’, you know."
And she did just that. Williams didn't drop a game for the rest of the match, running out a 6-2 6-0 winner and moving through to the third round where Japan's Ayumi Morita awaits.
The 72nd-ranked Japanese player will need to be prepared. Today Williams served a 207 km/h bomb on match point, and she is hoping to break the record in her next match.
“Next time I will try I will try to hit it – I don't know, I don't think I can hit it that hard. I will just see.”
Williams’ ace was just 3km/h off the record currently held by Australian Tammi Patterson.
"I did not expect that. I was like, ‘OK, I'm going to hit a big one, 200.’ It went 207. I was like, 'Wow'.
"I think it's my fastest that went in. I have hit some like 150s, but of course they're like to the sky."