Serena Williams said she returned to Indian Wells for the first time since 2001 because "the timing was right." She couldn't be more accurate in more ways than one.
Tennis.com reported on the No. 1 player in the world returning to the tournament that booed her and her family in 2001 when older sister Venus pulled out of a semifinals match against her just prior to the start, citing an injury - which many believed was a cover-up for the fact that they didn't want to play against each other.
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After she was vilified during her win in the finals over Steffi Graf, Serena made up her mind not to return and made good on that decision for 14 years.
"When she made the announcement in Time earlier this year, she said she believed that tennis had changed since 2001; as evidence, she cited the quick condemnation of the offensive comments that Russian Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpischev made about Serena and her sister last year," (calling them the "Williams brothers"), tennis.com reported.
"Change has come to tennis since 2001, and the Williams sisters may have more to do with it than anyone else. The evidence can be seen at Indian Wells, where African-Americans Taylor Townsend, Sloane Stephens, Donald Young, and Sachia Vickery have been in action, and where Madison Keys will make her debut on Saturday."
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While the Williams sisters certainly have been pioneers in blazing a trail through the sport for minority players in the future, there is another inescapable change from 2001:
No other American tennis players - male or female - are even near the top of the tennis rankings. Gone are American women's stars such as Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati. On the men's side, Andy Roddick was the last American to win a Grand Slam at the 2003 U.S. Open. And even he is a remnant of the Pete Sampras-Andre Agassi-Jim Courier era when tennis in the U.S. was viable.
In the absence of any other Americans competing for No. 1 or for Grand Slam titles, Serena has become the lone U.S. Tennis representative. Venus hasn't a slam since the 2008 Wimbledon. Venus has battled Sjogren's Syndrome, publicly announcing her disease in 2011. It is unknown how much of a factor Venus' disease has made her a more sympathetic figure, but she is revered now when she wins tournaments.
Serena has continued to pile up slam victories - 18 and counting - but also has changed her image. She has become friendlier and less combative in post-match interviews. She became more human when she befriended a jilted Caroline Wozniacki when Rory McIlroy announced publicly that their wedding engagement was off.
Even during her baffling behavior at Wimbledon, she showed a vulnerable side. So when she returned to win the U.S. Open, her story was a triumph of the spirit.
And so Indian Wells has changed, Serena has changed, and the prominence of U.S. Tennis has changed - all of which could be factored into her triumphant return to Indian Wells.
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