Serena Williams has revealed she considering skipping the French Open to concentrate on winning a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam at Wimbledon.
The American superstar won her 23rd title - one behind Margaret Court - while pregnant at the 2017 Australian Open.
She then missed four Grand Slams before pulling out of Roland Garros last year with a shoulder injury and losing the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
This season the 37-year-old mum has played only four tournaments and two claycourt matches before Paris because of a nagging knee injury.
Roger Federer had missed the clay-court Slam in the last three years – and has won three more Grand Slam titles.
Asked if she had thought about going straight to grass this season, Williams said: “It crossed my mind every day, but I’m here. And to do the best that I can do.
“There is only one way for me to enjoy it here. I don’t enjoy places when I don’t win, so that’s why I like playing in all four Grand Slams.
“I have enough tennis in me. I have 30-something years’ worth of tennis, so I’ll be fine.”
The world No.10, who faces Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara today (thursday), walked out onto Court Philippe-Chatrier for her first-round victory wearing a cape with the French words: “Queen, Champion, Mum, Goddess”.
She said: “It is a lot to carry, but so is being Serena Williams.”
