Serena not settling for second place, feels she's on winning path

WATCH—Advantage Omar from D.C., Episode 1:

The 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who is playing in San Jose this week, says she is on course to get back to her winning ways.

Williams returned to tour at the beginning of March, following the birth of her first child.

At Wimbledon, she reached the final, but lost in straight sets against German Angelique Kerber.

“Second place and second-best is not good enough,” Williams told the *San Jose Mercury News*.

“Wins are great, losses are hard but they prepare you to get more wins. It’s all on the right path to getting to my goal.”

It was just the fourth event of the season for Williams, who fell against her sister Venus at Indian Wells, lost in the first round of Miami against Naomi Osaka, and withdrew before the fourth round of the French Open.

Serena does say having a child has allowed her to reveal more of her off-court personality.

“I’ve always been very soft personally,” the No. 26 Williams said. “A lot of people, unfortunately, never get to see that side of me because they always see me pumping my fist when I’m on the court. Now they can see the other side that has always been there.”

Williams will be playing her opening round at San Jose against Johanna Konta. She won the tournament three times. During her career, she has won 72 titles.

ATP & WTA Washington D.C.

Catch all the action from the Citi Open with live coverage from three courts on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday, July 30th at 2:00 PM ET. All matches also available on-demand.