Not since Serena Williams hit herself in the face with her racket at the Australian Open has she looked even vaguely embarrassed on a tennis court. The gathering evidence suggests she would have to fall down a rabbit hole not to win the French Open title.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, physically imposing though she is, will need more than muscle to beat the American in the quarter-finals.
Both won yesterday, Williams allowing the Italian Roberta Vinci only four games in another embarrassingly one-sided workout.
In four matches the world number one has conceded 10 games. So inadequate was Vinci’s challenge, Williams (wishing no malice) said she found speaking French on court afterwards harder than closing out a match that lasted a mere 70 minutes. And so focused was the world number one she could not remember her one moment of angst, an internal row with herself at the start of the second set.
"I don't remember that at all," she said. "That just goes to show you I want every point. Sascha [Bajin, her hitting partner] always tells me I get too intense sometimes.
'So angry'
"He tells me: 'You have to relax. You've won the first set and then you're up. Why do you get so angry at one shot?' I'm like: 'You know what? I don't know. Every match I'm focused for the whole period of time, the whole time. I just really want it, every match."
Perhaps the tough-minded Kuznetsova will work her out. The 2009 champion, returning from injury that disrupted her 2012 season, was the only unseeded player among the eight in the top half of the fourth-round draw and she showed enough of her best form to suggest that the quarter-final should at least be competitive.
However, she had a much tougher time than Williams, taking nearly twice as long to beat German left-hander Angelique Kerber, the number eight seed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. “I should have played better in the second set,” she said, “but when I was in front I played a little faster.
“I didn’t have to do that because this is what she likes, to play with pace. It was important not to make the same mistake in the third set.”
Kuznetsova was not about to drown in nostalgia but conceded Roland Garros does give her a lift.
"I always love to play Paris, always brings the best out of me. It feels special."
Grand slam
She admitted she gets a rush in the majors that is missing in smaller tournaments.
“I had tough times,” she said. “I was not playing my game but grand slam always bring the best out of me. It just comes naturally. I don’t have to push myself but in small tournaments it is a bit difficult.
“Here it’s the French Open. It says everything. I turn myself on quickly.”
Williams, meanwhile, is taking nothing for granted. “It’s not going to be easy,” she said. “The last time we played here she won, so that will probably get her pumped up and she’s on a comeback. She has nothing to lose but everything to gain.”
It will be her toughest match of the tournament. But it would still be a major shock if she lost.
