Wimbledon 2019: What Serena Williams must change to win at SW19 after being pushed in first round

The American was made to work hard at times by Giulia Gatto-Monticone with opponents not looking at her in awe as they once did

Watching Serena Williams win her opening match against Italy’s Giulia Gatto-Monticone on Tuesday made me think, for the first time, that I was watching a different player. Different to the young girl who used to work with me at the IMG Academy which I founded in Florida. Different to the woman who swept all before her to become world No 1. Different even to the mother who returned to the court last year hoping for the win that would see her equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

This time I felt I was watching someone who might feel that her time is running out. Yes, she won 6-2, 7-5, but her opponent was a 31-year-old ranked No 161 in the world and making her Wimbledon debut. At times Serena was pushed hard. I couldn’t help wondering how she would fare against better opposition. Holy cow, there are probably eight or 10 women out there who have it in them to win Grand Slam titles.

Opponents just don’t look at Serena with the awe they used to. When players get into that frame of mind they’re going to be much looser and hit the ball with more freedom.

The positive news for Serena was that she didn’t appear to be suffering with the knee problem that has kept her off the court so often this year. Her game depends a lot on her movement and being able to get into position to hit those big ground strokes. She needs to avoid getting into too many long rallies.

Serena’s serve is also a major weapon. It was a bit up and down on this occasion. Man, she was even broken when she served for the match at 5-3 in the second set. She needs to get more first serves in to enable her to follow up with big forehands hit into the open court. She needs to win the points quickly.

I gather that Serena’s participation in the mixed doubles alongside Andy Murray has been confirmed, which I think is good news all round. Serena has had so few matches this year that I think it can only be to her advantage to have more time on court. I think that having some fun and winning some matches in mixed would be a very good thing for her.

Roger Federer will be 38 before Serena is and you do wonder whether he is having similar thoughts to her with regards to the future. However I wouldn’t read too much into his 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Lloyd Harris. That first set was surely down to the fact that Federer knew so little about his opponent.

Serena is showing signs her time as a Grand Slam winner is coming to an end (AP)

I was very pleased to see Sam Querrey beat Dominic Thiem in four sets. A lot of people thought that Big Sam was finished, but he showed how important a huge serve and ground strokes can be on grass. He pulled out of the French Open because of injury but has done well since then. He was twice within a point of going two sets down against Thiem, who is one of the best players of his generation.

Wednesday’s match of the day: I’ll be very interested to see how Danielle Collins fares against Anastasija Sevastova. Danielle has spent a lot of time at the IMG Academy so I’ve had a good chance to watch her. She has made great progress since graduating from university tennis, though she’s not done so well in the last couple of months.

Serena Williams celebrates at Wimbledon (AFP/Getty)

Danielle’s whole game in based on her power. I think her choice of Betsy Nagelsen as coach was a very good move. Betsy will be able to help her bring a little bit more control into her game. Danielle doesn’t need to hit winners with every shot.

Sevastova is No 12 in the world and a very good performer on grass, so Danielle will have her work cut out. She needs to win her serve and avoid going behind.

Ask Nick

If you have a question for me – whether it’s about how to improve your game, training techniques or anything else concerning this great sport of ours – just email me at QuestionsforNickB@gmail.com.

Today’s question is from Pat, who says that she wants to play more at the net but often finds that opponents read her approaches and beat her with passing shots. She wants some advice on how to disguise where she’s going to place the ball.

My suggestion is to play the point as if there’s nobody on the other side of the net. As Pat prepares to hit her approach shot she is probably thinking too much about what her opponent is going to do. That will slow her down and give her opponent more time to get back into position.

Instead, I would advise making an early choice as to where you’re going to hit your approach and go for it, without thinking about what’s happening on the other side of the net. Pick your spot and play it there as if you had a completely empty court in front of you.

My A-Z of the IMG- looking back over my life at the IMG Academy, which I founded in 1978. C is for Carling Bassett-Seguso, who was my first live-in student and one of my first big successes. She was always a great competitor and at 17 reached No 8 in the world rankings.

D is for Mike DePalmer, a former basketball and football coach who was director of tennis at the Bradenton Country Club and became a very good friend. Mike was the person who in 1976 alerted me to a teaching opportunity at The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort. I was at The Colony for five years and it was during that time that I hatched my plans for my own teaching establishment.

For more information on the IMG Academy’s tennis programmes email info@imgacademy.com or call +1-800-872-6425