Serena Williams credited her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, for inspiring her superb performance under Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof against Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Williams and Kuznetsova were tied at five games apiece in their last-16 tie on Monday, the latter having spurned a chance to serve out the first set, when concerns over moisture on the playing surface led to the retractable roof being utilised.
On the resumption of play, the reigning champion raised her level to win eight games in succession and complete a 7-5 6-0 victory.
Top seed Williams, who will now face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter-finals, said: “Both Svetlana and I had an opportunity to talk to our coaches. I think that really helped me out a lot.
“I talked to Patrick. He gave me some tips on what I could do. I just was able to do that.
“Obviously I’m not going to say what we talked about. But I can say it was things that obviously helped me get through it.
“He’s very calm. I think that really helps me. It helps me realise that when I’m calm, I usually can find answers and I can usually come through in big matches that I want to.
“I think he has great knowledge of what he does. I think he’s been a wonderful coach to me. Actually, before me as well. That’s one of the reasons I was open to working with him, because he’s good at what he does.”
Prior to the roof being closed, Williams had expressed unhappiness at conditions and was heard saying: “If I get hurt, I’m suing” following a discussion with chair umpire Marija Cicak
However, Williams was quick to downplay the incident in her post-match news conference
“Oh, you guys, don’t even try me like that,” she said.
“I was in the moment. I was on the court. What I say on the court … it’s in the heat of the moment. I have no plans, no future of suing Wimbledon. Let’s get serious. That’s not what I do. That’s not what I am.
“I’m not answering any more questions about that, nor will I want anyone reporting that either. That’s just completely absurd and wrong.”
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