Vera Zvonareva admits she is willing to break a racquet or two during the Wimbledon final against Serena Williams if it helps her defeat the defending champion
Vera Zvonareva admits she is willing to break a racquet or two during the Wimbledon final against Serena Williams if it helps her defeat the defending champion. Zvonareva will be playing in a grand slam final for the first time when she faces Serena on Centre Court today and she has no intention of being out-fought by the American top seed.
The Russian, seeded 21st, has an unwanted reputation as a choker after failing to live up to her potential in big matches earlier in her career.
But she defied that label by coming from a set down to defeat US Open champion Kim Clijsters in the quarter-finals here and then did the same against Tsvetana Pironkova in the semi-finals.
She is determined to play with passion against an aggressive opponent like Serena and will happily smash a racquet frame if that's what it takes to keep her fired up.
"It happens, sometimes you need to do it. You cannot keep everything inside," Zvonareva said.
"If you're not happy about yourself, sometimes you need to break the racquet and move on. If there is something inside of you that's stopping you from bringing the best out of the yourself, you need to scream at yourself, pump yourself up, break that racquet, I will do it if I know it will help me to perform better. Why not?
"Of course, you cannot just throw the racquets all the time and say things. But sometimes a little show of emotions I think is good.
"Tennis is an emotional sport. If you don't have any emotions, you will never be able to win. Emotion should be there."
Wimbledon on TV
6 pm onwardsWomen's singles final
Serena Williams v Vera Zvonareva
Men's doubles final
Women's doubles final
Live on Star Sports
