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MOTIVATED: Serena Williams

WIMBLEDON IS officially upon us, and Serena Williams is taking no prisoners.

The former World1 has warned her rivals that her competitive nature is stronger than ever, as she eyes an eighth Wimbledon singles title.

Williams is bidding to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slams at the end of the fortnight, nine months after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian.

“I don’t think I ever actually lost that competitive side. In fact, I feel like it’s stronger, because I’ve been through so much. I put so much on the back-burner,” she said.

Williams pregnancy meant the 36-year-old missed last year’s Championships and means she has not lost here since 2014, when she was surprisingly knocked out by France’s Alize Cornet.

The American admitted, however, that her desire to get back to the top of the game had not been entirely expected. “It definitely surprises me a little because I thought it would be different. I thought, ‘Hey, I have this amazing child, I have all these Grand Slams, this is all super bonus’, and it is.”

"I feel a lot less pressure out there, but I am a little bit shocked at how much I almost want that pressure. I almost want to feel the need to go out there and be the best that I can be.”

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