04 June,2009 10:57 AM IST | | AFP
Serena Williams said she couldn't wait for this year's Wimbledon to begin after being dumped out of the French Open at the quarter-final stage.
The American World No 2 came off second best in a 2hr 46min marathon against Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 7-5 to set up a semi-final with Australian number 30 seed Samantha Stosur.
The defeat ended Williams's hopes of a third-straight Grand Slam title, having triumphed at the 2008 US Open and this year's Australian Open.
She has now set her sights on winning a third Wimbledon singles title, but admits that in previous years she has struggled to adapt to the transition between clay and grass.
"For me it's frustrating, because the balls are flying and going so fast (on grass)," she said. "It's totally different and I always start out really, really bad, so it's just frustrating for me.
"I don't wish there was more of a gap (between the tournaments) though. It's like, I lost here, maybe I can do better at Wimbledon. I wish it were tomorrow."
Williams has not tasted singles glory at Roland Garros or Wimbledon since the purple patch in 2002-2003 when she won five majors in just over a year, winning back-to-back Wimbledons and clinching her only French Open title to date in 2002.
She has since made two final appearances in London, losing to a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova of Russia in 2004 and then to her elder sister Venus in 2008.
Asked about her targets for the Wimbledon fortnight, Williams replied: "My goal is to do better than last year, hopefully."
The former World No 1 struggled for form and fitness going into Roland Garros and conceded that she had
| u00a0 |
| A disappointed Serena Williams after losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova during their quarter-final match of the French Open at the Roland Garros in Paris yesterday. PIC/APu00a0 |
"I started out really bad," she said. "Just physically, I wasn't the best. I was trying to make it. I didn't have great matches coming in here, and I started out on a losing streak.
"I guess I was just on a hope and a dream, and now it's over."
With Williams out of the way, Russia's Dinara Safina will seek to confirm her status as women's World No 1 by winning her first Grand Slam after two unsuccessful attempts.
A beaten finalist in Paris against Ana Ivanovic last year, Safina was out-classed by Williams in this year's Australian Open final, but the American thinks the 23-year-old's time may have finally come.
"I already think she's definitely authenticated as the World No 1," Williams said.
"I definitely see her as a favourite."
