Never count Serena out.
It seemed that ESPN2 broadcasters Chris Evert and Dick Enberg, veterans of the sport and calling it, nearly did that after she lost the second set today to Aravane Rezai. True, she was huffing and, smartly, taking a lot of time between points. Williams the Younger delivered a Fazoli's breadstick to Rezai in the third, though—6-1—and after initially celebrating, burst into tears in her courtside chair, mopping up the mess of a "disaster year" with a pink Wimbledon towel.
She spoke with the BBC directly afterward, still teary-eyed and emotional. And for once, steely Serena, usually so brazen and stiff-arming the competition (and even most media), became incredibly feel-y. "I never cry, with joy, for anything," she said with a weary yet relieved chuckle.
We'll let her words speak: