Serena Williams is getting better all the time

FROM WIMBLEDON —

Is Serena getting better with each match? She sure is, which is why she has reached the quarters.

Is that a big deal? Yes and no. She has won seven Grand Slams at Wimbledon. Two years ago, when she was No. 1, she dominated with her huge serves, her sweet backhand and a gigantic forehand.

Then she became a mother. She came back, in March, she was pretty slow — admittedly — and it has taken her four months to get in shape. She is not perfect yet, but she is more comfortable and driven. 

On Monday, she smacked Evgeniya Rodina, even though there were some fine rallies. Williams took it to her. Now, she is closer and closer to being ready to take the title.

“Yes, absolutely. I’m getting there. Yeah, I don’t think I’m there yet. I feel like it takes time to get there,” Serena said.

On Tuesday, she has to face Italian, Camila Giorgi. Obviously, Serena is the favorite here because, while Giorgi can attack quickly, she cannot hit big serves. That is when Serena will pounce. They have played each other three times, on clay and hard, and Giorgi hasn’t won a set yet, but it has been reasonably close. The Italian has never gone very deep at the Slams, but she is only 25 years old and she still has time to grow. But when she wakes up in the morning, she knows she has a big task ahead. Perhaps she can bring it into the third set. But I doubt that, because Serena is focused. 

Before Serena and Giorgi will play on Centre Court, the renewed Angie Kerber will play Daria Kasatkina. Kerber is the favorite, but Kasatkina is rising every day. She is so darn good.

Speaking of which, the 21-year-old Jelena Ostapenko is playing fantastic ball. When she doesn’t get too upset — and she does, frequently — she can outhit just about anyone, including Dominika Cibulkova. 

I expected Julia Goerges to get through, which she did, but I wasn’t sure about Kiki Bertens versus Katarina Pliskova. Another day, another women’s seed dismissed. Bertens found the lines and jumped on the ball. She will face Goerges, which is a very tight match. The German will win in three close sets.