‘I never expected to be playing here in Kentucky.’ A tennis legend comes to town.
The coronavirus pandemic has cost athletes and fans around the world countless opportunities to achieve or witness sports glory over the last several months.
But if you’re seeking silver linings, look no further than Central Kentucky next week, when one of the most accomplished and internationally recognizable athletes on the planet will compete in an event that would never have occurred under normal circumstances.
Serena Williams — the 23-time Grand Slam champion who has arguably been the face of professional tennis for the entire 21st century — headlines a talented field for the Top Seed Open, which will kick off at Top Seed Tennis Club in Nicholasville on Monday and run through Aug. 16. Because of concerns related to COVID-19 fans are not allowed, but the entire tournament will be televised live around the world on the Tennis Channel.
The Women’s Tennis Association event will be the first professional men’s or women’s tour tournament played in the United States since the pandemic struck in March. It will mark Williams’ first official competition since playing for the U.S. in the Fed Cup in February. The WTA worked with Top Seed officials to organize the tournament as a warm-up for the 2020 U.S. Open, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in New York City.
Williams, who is currently ranked No. 9 in the world and resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., spoke to the media during a Zoom teleconference on Saturday less than 24 hours after arriving in Kentucky.
“I never expected to be playing here in Kentucky, but it’s close to Florida and it’s easy to get here for me. I’m excited,” Williams said. “There won’t be fans here but it’s cool. We’ve been stuck at home for six months.”
Williams is ready to return to competition, but she made the most of her time during the last few months of quarantine.
“Every part of me loved it, actually, because I haven’t been home that long since I was literally a teenager. Even when I was pregnant I was traveling a lot,” Williams said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been home that long and it was nice, but it’s also a really cool opportunity to come to Kentucky.”
Williams hasn’t been to a public workout facility since the pandemic began, but she’s still in fantastic physical shape. At one point during the teleconference she flexed her right arm and kissed her bicep.
“This is God-given, thank you very much, from my mom,” Williams said.
She was also able to stay in shape by training on the tennis court she recently had built at her home in Florida. Williams is also in the midst of building a home gym.
“The gym’s not quite done, but it’s cool. The tennis court is so fun,” Williams said. “I go there and it’s my own sanctuary, I’m like, ‘why haven’t I done this 20 years ago?’ … I’ve had a few players out there and I’m like, ‘this is the U.S. Open surface, so come hit with me.’”
While Williams never thought of creating her own tennis sanctuary at home before the pandemic hit, she certainly never imagined competing during a global pandemic.
“I’ve played through so many different generations and so many different things …,” she said. “It’s something that the whole world is going through. It’s not just us as tennis players or us as athletes, it’s literally the whole world that’s going through this pandemic. Right now I think sport has been one of the few things that can actually provide a breath of fresh air or a sigh of relief for people that are still stuck in their homes.”
Asked whether she still planned to compete in the U.S. Open and the French Open after that, Williams said, “I see myself doing it all if it happens.”
But she’s taking things one step at a time.
“I’m not planning for the future … One thing I’ve learned with this pandemic is don’t plan. I’m literally living for the day and for the moment in a good way, but I’m not making plans too far out.”
Williams’ immediate plans involve testing her skills against some of the best players in the world at the Top Seed Open.
“It’ll be really fun and interesting to see how we play.”
Top Seed Open
When: Monday through Sunday, Aug. 16
Where: Top Seed Tennis Club in Nicholasville
TV: Tennis Channel (no spectators)
This story was originally published August 8, 2020 at 4:43 PM.
