Serena Williams seeks some security in her homeland
Playing in America always lifts the five-time US Open champion and she needs a boost after this season's slam letdowns
Serena Williams will once again be counted on to wave the Stars and Stripes at her home Open as she takes centre stage at Flushing Meadows with the next generation of American tennis hopefuls waiting in the wings.
The world number one has always made a point of how special it is to play at home and there is no bigger stage than centre court at the US National Tennis Centre during the year's final grand slam.
Just feels so good to be an American and play in America. I love holding up the trophy
Expectations weigh on Williams but it is a burden she has capably carried on her muscular shoulders since claiming her maiden grand slam on the New York hard courts in 1999 and 15 years later continues to do the heavy lifting for US tennis.
"I love playing in the USA," said Williams. "Just feels so good to be an American and play in America. I love holding up the trophy. For me, there is no better feeling."
Williams has reached the US Open winner's circle five times, including the last two years, and is favoured to add a sixth to her collection when the gates swing open tomorrow at Flushing Meadows.
She arrives in New York proclaiming to be at the top of her game, riding the momentum from hard court titles in Stanford and Cincinnati that book-end a semi-final appearance in Montreal where she lost to her resurgent sister Venus. Adding to Williams' confidence, the path to the September 7 women's final has been cleared of at least one major obstacle with another limping.