The real Serena Williams finally showed up on Wednesday, which spells bad news for the other three women remaining in the French Open. Having struggled through her previous three rounds, all of which went to a deciding set, the world No1 ripped apart the fragile game of Italy’s Sara Errani 6-1, 6-3 and stands two wins away from a 20th grand slam title. On Thursday, she will play Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky, a woman who two years ago was washing plates and working towards a career in hotel management. The contrast could not be plainer.
After her win over Sloane Stephens in the fourth round, Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, said he had not yet found a way here, this fortnight, to correct the American’s mindset.