Serena hopes shoulder injury won’t derail history bid

US player Serena Williams looks on after losing her women’s final match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 4, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE LOPEZ

Serena Williams unveiled a new sports bra and tennis racquet in a dizzying round of commercial duties this week, but when talk turned to her injured shoulder on Friday, the American preferred to reveal as little as possible.

The 34-year-old world number one, who is chasing a record seventh US Open and modern era all-time high of 23 Grand Slams in New York, has been slowed by a shoulder inflammation which led to an early Olympics exit.

It also saw her withdraw from the Cincinnati event last week.

“I have not played a lot, I haven’t practiced a lot, but I’m just now starting to feel a little better. Hopefully just every day I will keep going higher,” said the American.

“The US Open is obviously a special place. I think usually I prefer to play more coming into the final Grand Slam of the year, but there is nothing we can do about it.

“You just have to make the best of every single opportunity. That’s all I can do now.”

But when asked to elaborate on the seriousness of the shoulder injury, the top seed shrugged: “Yeah, no, just shoulder-wise. I am starting to feel better so that’s a positive.”

Williams equalled Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 majors with victory at Wimbledon in July.

It was a win which came after a dispiriting run at the Slams — a shock semi-final defeat to Roberta Vinci in New York 12 months ago followed by losses in the Australian and French Open finals to Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza respectively.

Ironically, those two women have the chance to snatch the world number one ranking from Williams in New York.

The American, however, could break Graf’s record of 186 consecutive weeks on top of the world rankings.

Williams begins her US Open campaign against experienced Ekaterina Makarova of Russia.

Makarova, the world number 36, reached the semi-finals in 2014, losing to the American in straight sets.

But she beat Williams in the round of 16 at the Australian Open in 2012.

“I know she’s a good player. I’ve just got to do the best I can,” said Williams.

“She’s a big fighter. She never really stops. I think one thing I think that’s pretty impressive is she gets a lot of balls back. You think she’s not super quick, but she is.”