It has become customary for ppl to use superlatives when describing Serena's play, yet to listen to Chris Evert describe having extended and renewed respect for Serena was gripping.
You could see how enthralled and absorbed into amazement she was at Serena's performance today (and in the past seven weeks). According to her, Serena won despite playing not her best 🎾. She actually said Serena played "badly" today. Also referred to the adversity and character Serena has faced and shown throughout the rounds.
Evert said she expected Serena to tie Graf, and to then go beyond that to get to 24 slams ... According to Evert, 24 is an achievable target. Her colleague agreed without reservation.
By the time Evert mentioned that, in getting to the final, Serena faced the toughest opponents she could possibly face, one started to reflect on the fact that these commentators are typically critical, but could find no reasonable space to deny Serena's prospects.
The interesting bit for me is talent identification and fulfilment of promise. Already at 21 slams, it is instructive that 21 slams ago, the experts were so correct in predicting her anticipated dominance. That they are predicting more achievement at Serena's age is eye-opening ... including getting into Margaret Court territory.
Will finish with this: as they spoke, my thoughts turned to thousands of under-resourced and marginalized kids who with the proper platform, via exposure to sporting disciplines of all ilks, could have life-changing transformations.
Just looking at the panoply of disciplines in which poor Cuban kids have excelled as world-class athletes makes for a lesson in opportunity, political and systemic considerations aside.
We need to change more lives through sport.