"No matter what happens in any match - semis, final - I feel like I've already won"
Friday 7 September 2018 18:05, UK
Serena Williams says she feels like she has "already won" after a year-long journey which has culminated in the tennis great reaching her ninth US Open final.
The American overcame her US Open semi-final hoodoo to reach a 31st Grand Slam singles final as she recovered from a nervy start to beat Lativa's Anastasija Sevastova 6-3 6-0 in just 66 minutes.
After losing the Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber, Williams will have another chance on Saturday to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 major singles titles against first-timer and 16 years her junior, Naomi Osaka.
Williams never expressed any doubt that she would return to the game following the birth of her daughter Olympia last September, but that seemed an awfully long way away when she was fighting for her life in a hospital bed after developed life-threatening complications.
"It's really incredible. A year ago I was literally fighting for my life after I had the baby. Every time I step out on this court, I am so grateful I have an opportunity to play this sport. No matter what happens in any match - semis, final - I feel like I've already won," said six-time US Open champion, Williams.
Williams, who has dropped only one set in the tournament, put her current level at only 50 or 60 per cent, added: "I definitely don't feel myself yet. My mom said it takes a full year to get back. I'm at a full year now. But I'm also playing a sport professionally.
"Even my body is different. I actually weigh less than I did before I got pregnant, but it's distributed differently now.
"This is the beginning. I'm not there yet. I'm on the climb still. I just feel like not only is my future bright, even though I'm not a spring chicken, but I still have a very, very bright future. That is super exciting for me."
Williams' opponent Osaka was only a year old when Williams won her first Grand Slam title here in 1999. Now, 19 years later, she will try to become the first Japanese woman to win a major singles title.
Osaka showed incredible poise to save all 13 break points she faced on her way to victory over Madison Keys and deny home spectators an all-American affair in the final.
Asked how she did it, she replied: "This is going to sound really bad but I was just thinking, 'I really want to play Serena'."
"Of course it feels a little bit surreal," said the 20-year-old. "Even when I was a little kid, I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a grand slam. Just the fact that it's happening, I'm very happy about it.
"At the same time I feel like, even though I should enjoy this moment, I should still think of it as another match. I shouldn't really think of her as my idol. I should just try to play her as an opponent."
And as for how those dreams ended: "I don't dream to lose, so... That's how I'm answering your question."
We have every major tennis event covered from all angles via our website skysports.com/tennis. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation.
Tennis is back on Sky Sports screens with the Laver Cup in September while we will also have coverage of the ATP Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports.
