Serena eager to return after lockdown break
Serena says she's ready to play "real tennis" after the enforced rest of coronavirus quarantine.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US superstar Serena Williams says she s ready to play "real tennis" after the enforced rest of coronavirus quarantine.
"I really look forward to getting back on the court," the 23-time Grand Slam champion said in a chat with elder sister Venus during an Instagram live workout on Tuesday.
"It s what I do best. I absolutely love playing."
Tennis is on hiatus until at least mid-July thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the French Open postponed until autumn and Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II.
Serena said she d come to see the break as "a necessary evil.
"I felt like my body needed it, even though I didn t want it," said the 38-year-old, who last won a Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open. "And now I m feeling better than ever. I m feeling more relaxed, more fit. Now I can go out and play real tennis."
Elder sister Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, began posting workouts on Instagram eight weeks ago and this week she invited Serena, "the greatest tennis player to ever exist -- my little sister" to share a yoga-inspired stretching session.
Serena said the exercises, which took about half an hour, served as a warm-up for her, even though they were "a little intense."
"Do not injure yourself doing this," she admonished during one lunge, while advising at another point: "If you have bad knees, like me, use a pad."
