Serena was tamed because she lost her aggression

Tracy Austin says the world No1 paid for a rare conservative approach but she praises defeated Laura Robson

Had the occasional twist and turn gone differently in their respective first sets yesterday, Serena Williams and Laura Robson could conceivably have been walking out together on court today.

As it is, the pair are packing their bags while Sabine Lisicki, who stunned Williams, and Robson’s vanquisher, Kaia Kanepi, will do battle in what could have been their quarter-final.

The women’s tournament has been blown wide open and picking a potential winner is nigh-on impossible according to former world No1 number Tracy Austin, a two-time Grand Slam winner and former Wimbledon semi-finalist.

“I’m usually willing to make a prediction even if I’m wrong but right now, any of the eight left in the draw could win it,” said Austin , who is now part of the BBC commentary team at SW19. “There’s never been a better chance for them to win a Grand Slam.

“I never imagined Serena would lose to Lisicki but, then again, I never imagined Victoria Azarenka to go out and, likewise, Maria Sharapova so early on. Those two missed out on wacky Wednesday and yesterday was more like manic Monday.”

Undoubtedly, the biggest surprise is the absence of Williams, who was virtually everybody’s pick to win the tournament. Had she beaten Lisicki, it would have been her 35th consecutive victory on the WTA Tour, matching a tally by older sister Venus set in 2000. The world No1 was also approaching 300 aces in the 10 singles tournaments she has played this year alone.

“Serena had lost just three matches in the last 12 months and had never been playing better tennis in her entire career,” said Austin. “On top of that, she already had 16 Grand Slam titles, Azarenka and Sharapova were no longer standing in her way here. I can’t remember a bigger tournament favourite but she’s human, right.”

Trying to unpick what went wrong, according to Austin, is easy.

“Sabine Lisicki was always going to be the big danger for Serena,” she said. “That’s a tough fourth-round match as she loves to play on grass, which meant she was comfortable and helped her serve.

“I think Serena just got tight knowing Lisicki was so dangerous. She took her foot off the gas and didn’t go for her own shots. Serena is at her best when she’s playing aggressive tennis but she didn’t do that.

“But also all credit to Lisicki, who looked down in that third set 3-1 behind and in trouble on her serve. But that moment was the game changer, the momentum changer. Had Williams won that game, I don’t think it would be wrong to suggest she would have won the title.”

With the big three missing from the women’s singles draw, there is an unknown feel to the line-up of the last eight. The participants include 20th seed Kirsten Flipkens, who seems to have coasted into her first quarter-final at a Grand Slam virtually unnoticed.

“Obviously, the absence of Williams and the other big threats, is great for the eight still going,” said Austin. “But is it good for women’s tennis? That’s the interesting question. You could argue that without Serena and people not knowing the names [of the other players] they might not be so easily enticed to watch but it shows the number of quality players in there and how good the strength in depth is in women’s tennis. That’s got to be a good thing.”

With such a potentially open draw, Robson will be left thinking ‘what if’ with the quarter-finals in full swing on Centre and No1 Court. The British No1 left Centre in tears yesterday following her defeat to Kanepi but Austin insisted the Briton should focus on the positives from the tournament, the highlight of which was her defeat of 10th seed Maria Kirilenko on day two.

“Of course, she’s going to be disappointed; you’d want her to be,” said Austin. “But she’s 19, has played some great tennis over the last week and should focus on the pluses.

“I’ve been very impressed by her. She’s a player that, when I watch her, I think she has a chance of winning a Grand Slam and you can’t say that about everyone. I think her game’s really come on. I really like the improvement I’ve seen in her. Her serve has always been a big weapon and will continue to be as a leftie but she showed it can be a serious weapon with greater reliability. But her forehand is that now as well.

“Sure, there are things she needs to improve. Her movement is the big one but most of all she shouldn’t think about the what ifs and the fact that she wouldn’t have been against Serena in the next round. Instead, she should think about the valuable experience she has gained by her second time in the fourth round [at a Grand Slam] and beating a seeded player like Maria Kirilenko at the top of her game. That sort of thing is tough to come by.”

The quarter-final features just one former Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova, who took the title in 2011.

Austin added: “Kvitova would do well to feed off those memories. Her form has really fluctuated but she looks like she’s playing better with every round.”

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